Kiwook Kim · CLIENT: MiraeN
Coexistence and Connection is a series of textbooks designed for high school geography courses. The books move away from the plain look of traditional learning materials and use color and illustration to hold student attention. Detailed cover illustrations express the diversity of the spaces people live in and the value of mutual coexistence. Four-color printing, color foil and a strong coating keep the pages clean and durable in daily use. The formats stay light and easy to carry, while the larger volume allows clear reading of map materials.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- It is a design for high school geography subject textbooks, designed to provide students with visual pleasure and interest and to understand subjects intentionally, away from the framework of existing traditional learning textbooks. In addition, the detailed illustrations used on the cover contained a message that we should pursue the diverse appearance of the space we live in and the world of mutual coexistence, inspired by the characteristics of the subject called geography.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Global citizens and geography have a size of 220 x 285 x 8mm. The geographic map has a size of 290 x 280 x 9.5mm. As a tool for teaching materials called textbooks, we considered specifications and paper that were not too big or heavy for students to use.
- Tags
- Textbook, Geography
- Production Technology
- As a learning textbook, we focused on the physical properties of books that students encounter offline. For the author’s original work to be as lively as possible in color and subtle post-printing, we used color foil for 4th-degree color printing and post-processing of markers that were not easily contaminated and not spoiled by applying a strong coating on the hands.
- Design Challenge
- It was difficult to escape from the purpose and traditional design of the learning textbook. At the same time, it was not easy to find an illustrator who could contain the purpose and message. It was meaningful to meet the artist ‘mmmeari’ while exchanging opinions with my colleagues and to talk about the characteristics, colors, and design directions of the subject. Rather than thinking alone, I think a story in a different direction from the collaborator is a way to overcome the challenge.
- Project Duration
- The full-scale design and illustration work of the project began in Seoul, South Korea in April 2024, ended in Seoul in June 2024, and was reviewed by the Ministry of Education in September, before being available in South Korean high schools in March 2025.
- Operation Flow
- In the case of global citizens and geography subjects, we tried to help students learn as much as possible by using easy-to-learn books, light weight, and easy-to-write paper. In the case of geography books, we designed a slightly larger plate to make it easier to see various map materials, and rather than writing directly, we chose a little glossy or paper that could stand out the starting materials.
- Research
- After publishing textbooks in the United States, geographic bankruptcies accounted for nearly 60% of the entire market. As a result, it was chosen as the geographic bankruptcy for the most common geography subject that Korean high school students encounter. This is the result of showing design interest and subjective characteristics at a glance, and at the same time, we achieved our goal as a practical textbook along with design.
- Inspiration
- Textbook design is a genre with typical design of learning materials, and in this project, I thought it would be good to play a role in stimulating the creativity and curiosity of students who are users beyond the design of general textbooks.
So, I was inspired by designs and pictures and videos in various fields. Also, the geography course is a book that contains the shape, climate, topography, and culture of the land we live in, and it was inspired by the appearance of the space we live in.
Press releases are available in 1 languages.