Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan by Bealuz Villavicencio

Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan by Bealuz Villavicencio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award in Naqshadeynta Daabacaadda iyo Warbaahinta La Daabacay Competition Category.

BirDaabacaad· 2026

Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan

by Bealuz Villavicencio

Client: Bealuz Villavicencio

Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award Winner in Daabacaad Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #175052

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan

Book Text: Nella Pancia Della Balena waa buug aamusan oo baadho wasakhowga badaha iyada oo loo marayo sheekada nibiri ay saameysay qashinka ku jira badda. Sheekadu waxay iftiimisaa mawduucyada saaxiibtinimada, shaqada wadajirka ah, iyo daryeelka deegaanka, iyada oo akhristayaasha da'da yar siisa meel furan oo ay kaga fikiri karaan mas'uuliyadda deegaanka. Iyada oo si dijital ah loogu sameeyay Procreate, shaqadu waxay isku darsataa kaftan iyo sheekooyin macno leh si loo dhiirrigeliyo wacyigelinta ilaalinta badaha.

The Recognition

About the Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award

Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan waa guuleystaha Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award, aqoonsi sharaf leh oo la siiyo naqshado wanaagsan oo buuxiya shuruudaha xirfadeed iyo kuwa warshadeed ee laga filayo hal-abuurro si wanaagsan loo naqshadeeyay. Guuleystayaasha Birta waxay muujiyaan xirfad weyn, takhasus sare, fahan khabiir iyo awood hal-abuur oo abuurayaashooda. Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan waa hal-abuur la filayo inuu noqdo mid aad loo tixgeliyo, la ixtiraamo oo la jecel yahay, wax ku ool ah oo cusub. Naqshadahan ku guuleystay Abaalmarinta Birta ah ee A' Design Award wuxuu isku daraa hab-dhaqannada ugu wanaagsan warshadda wuxuuna leeyahay sifooyin farsamo oo karti leh oo ku xiran aqoon iyo hibo. Dhammaystirkeeda awgeed, Nella Pancia Della Balena Primary Function: Buug Aamusan waa mudan ixtiraam, waxaana loo naqshadeeyay inay keento hagaajin nololeed oo ka caawisa in adduunka laga dhigo meel ka wanaagsan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is a wordless picture book that addresses marine pollution through the story of a whale burdened by human waste. Designed for children, it distinguishes itself by combining humor with ecological awareness, making complex environmental issues accessible. Its silent narrative transcends language barriers, fostering empathy, teamwork, and responsibility through vivid illustration
Dimensions & Packaging: Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is a 32-page wordless picture book in a square format measuring 285 mm x 285 mm when closed and 570 mm x 285 mm when open. The book is printed in high resolution at 300 dpi using CMYK color process to ensure vivid illustrations and consistent quality.
Tags: Silent book, Wordless picture book, Marine conservation, Children’s illustration, Ocean pollution
Production Technology: Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book was created digitally using iPad and Procreate, combining hand-drawn illustration techniques with digital layering and coloring. The design process involved iterative sketching, composition studies, and refined line work to balance narrative clarity with expressive detail. Color palettes and textures were carefully developed to enhance mood and storytelling while maintaining visual consistency across all 32 pages.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was shaping a complex theme like marine pollution into a silent narrative that children could understand without words. Balancing humor with seriousness required many revisions to avoid either oversimplification or excessive heaviness. Zero text meant every visual detail carried weight, demanding careful research and iteration. Technical constraints of digital tools and the need for clarity across cultures added further challenges, all resolved through refinement and feedback.
Research: The research was qualitative, aiming to show how a silent book could raise awareness of marine pollution. Using sketching, storyboarding, and digital illustration, and guided by feedback from children and educators, the project showed that images alone foster empathy, imagination, and dialogue on ecology.
Inspiration: The inspiration for this project arises from a profound appreciation for whales and an increasing awareness of the threats posed by ocean pollution. The design was motivated by the intention to communicate environmental concerns to children in a manner that is gentle yet impactful. By employing silent storytelling, the book transcends language barriers and invites readers into an imaginative journey that combines empathy, curiosity, and ecological awareness through visual design.
Project Duration: The project started in December 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, and was completed in February 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. It was exhibited at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025, the Salone del Libro 2025, and the Canton Book Fair 2025.
Operation Flow: Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is experienced through page turning, where each silent illustration guides the reader forward without words. Children follow the journey visually, interpreting the story through images and discovering new details with each reading. The absence of text invites imagination, allowing readers to create their own dialogue and deepen their connection to the narrative.
Team Members: Author and Illustrator: Bealuz Villavicencio
Image Credits: Image #1: Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.
Image #2: Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.
Image #3: Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.
Image #4: Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.
Image #5: Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.