Background

Phrases and Tips for the Coffee Room was developed as part of Kielibuusti project (2021-2024) in collaboration with some the University of Helsinki’s language faculty. The booklet was distributed physically at the University of Helsinki and Aalto University, and digitally on the Kielibuusti website. It was written by Emmi Pollari, while I was responsible for the illustrations and layout design. In addition to the booklet, the project also included a video featuring the phrases, allowing users to hear how the phrases sound in spoken Finnish.

Designing for Two Different User Groups

What sets this booklet apart is its dual-sided design, catering to both learners of Finnish and their supporters, such as colleagues. One side is tailored for learners, while the other is for those supporting them. For example, the learners’ side contains everyday phrases like, “How does this microwave work?”, while the supporters’ side offers helpful tips such as, “Speak calmly, but not too slowly.”

This dual-sided approach allows both user groups to engage with the booklet simultaneously. The learners’ side is illustrated with images of objects relevant to coffee room discussions, while the supporters’ side features images of people in conversation.

Inclusive Representation

In designing the characters for this booklet, I aimed to depict a diverse range of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. As someone from an ethnic background who speaks Finnish natively, it was important to show that learners aren’t always from non-European backgrounds, and similarly, supporters or native speakers don’t have to be of European descent. This inclusive representation ensures that the booklet reflects the diversity of language learners and supporters.

Key Learning Outcome

Through this project, I gained valuable experience in creating a visual system for illustrations. This involved developing modular design elements—like puzzle pieces—that could be combined in various ways to efficiently create unique characters.