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client
CLDS
Viana do Castelo
2022
brief
War, Peace & Emotions was a small, short publication commissioned by Portuguese social and educational organisation CLDS Viana do Castelo, in response to the war in Ukraine. Aimed at children, their families, and the wider school community, it brought together drawings and writing created by local children aged 9–10, exploring how they understood the conflict and the emotions surrounding it.
My role was to design the publication around the children’s drawings and writing, bringing their contributions together into one piece. Given the difficult subject matter, the main challenge was to handle their work with care whilst making the book engaging for children, their families, and the wider school community.
concept
outcome
I kept the design deliberately minimal, using scale, cropping, and selective placement to give each contribution its own space. Some drawings were enlarged or isolated on the page, drawing attention to key details.
Negative space was also used throughout to reflect feelings of isolation and uncertainty, whilst brighter colours and more playful compositions brought in a sense of hope. This balance helped address the seriousness of the subject without making the publication feel too heavy
The final outcome was a printed publication that brought together children’s different perspectives and gave them a platform beyond the classroom. Copies were shared with the students and the wider school community, helping approach difficult conversations about the war in a more accessible and compassionate way.
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