As Oriel Square’s Design Manager, Rebekkah Hughes oversees the creative side of our projects, including resource management, commissioning artwork, illustrators and designers, as well as fulfilling our internal design needs. Rebekkah has held roles in adult education and training and holds a master’s degree in Graphic Design which informs her approach to design process and management.
Whether for print or digital, working on products for education requires a breadth of design skills to deliver engaging, accessible and – crucially – highly effective teaching and learning materials. Bringing in the right skills at the right time can make the difference between a successful educational resource that enhances learning, and – at worst – a product that is detrimental to outcomes.
After visiting the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, our Publishing Delivery Manager, Liz Cremona-Howard, wrote about how working on educational materials for schools can give the impression that ‘Educational’ almost becomes a synonym for functional, or even ugly. Yet, while ‘1 in 12 children do not have a book of their own at home‘, it’s even more important that educational books used in schools are inclusive, engaging and of the highest quality. Educational publishing must be for all children.
Designing educational content for schools: Six key skills
- Design management: An in-depth understanding of how to manage design production for individual or multiple components means that not only will your visual expectations come true, but you’ll also have regular touchpoints to see design development in action.
- Page & cover design: The design and production of both covers and internal pages must meet the unique requirements of the project, showcasing the personality and key selling points of the product. Good page and cover design ensure that the design is engaging, functional and built for longevity and future editions.
- Designing digital components: Whether producing new content for digital use or repurposing print content, digital components are an integral part of educational products and should work seamlessly with print components.
- Artwork & illustration: Whether artistic or technical, briefing and creating illustrations are among the best parts of creating new materials. We work with talented artists who can respond to numerous design styles and budgets.
- Typesetting & page layout: Each project demands a unique approach and understanding of the design aims. We ensure that cultural sensitivities, accessibility, age-specific considerations and practical needs are built into the design from the start.
- Marketing & promotion: Once you’ve brought your project to life, the right marketing approach can deliver it to your target audience. We can develop a targeted marketing campaign alongside the necessary messaging, written content and design assets to ensure it is a success.
Our in-house expertise combined with access to a range of industry professionals means we can deliver all aspects of design that your project requires. Get in touch to book a free initial project consultation with Rebekkah.
