Double Page Spread Design Process

I decide to start with brown paper as the background to give the book a handmade, scrapbook feel as well as a rustic tone that would be fitting of the World War One home front.

I then added the title in a handwritten font to grab children's attention. 

Ink splatters where then underlaid to give the look of jam and add a sense of playfulness, but not draw attention away from the title. 

A photo of the final product was then incorporated, overlaid on yellowed paper, again to give a scrapbook feel, but also give the look that this may potentially be an old photo from the war period. 

Graph paper was also used to add a different texture/pattern, incorporated into the ingredients list. I was also hoping that children may find a sense of familiarity from their own school exercise books.

The graph paper was then subtly continued throughout the numbered recipe stages to visually tie these to the ingredients list. Stages of the recipe run across the bottom of the page, read form left to right to avoid any confusion. Simple child-like illustrations accompany to give a point of reference to the child without being too overwhelming. I used limited colour so that this would not confuse/distract.

Illustrations were then made bigger so that they were more prominent on the page. 

Mice characters were then added, on-keeping with the rustic, countryside feel. Illustrations are kept realistic so that they provide a point of reference to children and could potentially appeal to people of all ages.

Brambles and summer fruits were also incorporated to give the children an idea of where the jam comes from, and possibly inspire them to explore outside and pick their own fruit.

A fact about children picking fruit in the war was also included, providing context for the recipe and fruit illustrations. Torn, lined notebook paper incorporates another recognisable texture and continues the handmade feel. 

More jam-coloured ink splatters were added, as well as mice paw prints and a tiny 'squeak' to give the mice a playful character and tie the double page spread together as a whole.