BORED IN ATHENS

Embarking on the journey of navigating a new environment can be overwhelmingly daunting, particularly for rising college freshmen experiencing the independence of being away from home for the first time. Our guide was created  with the intention of alleviating some of this stress and facilitating a smoother transition into the college experience.

Our team’s research revealed that there are currently little to no efforts being made to bridge the gap between incoming University of Georgia freshman and the greater Athens community. We aimed to fix this by creating an interactive guide that would encourage students to get off campus and see all that Athens has to offer.


Crafted as a dynamic and interactive compass, our guide is designed to seamlessly usher incoming UGA freshmen into a sense of belonging within their new community, fostering a vibrant connection to their new home.

In a landscape flooded with brochures and booklets, the barrage of information aimed at incoming freshmen often leads to overlooked or discarded materials. Recognizing this challenge, our team embarked on the mission to create a guide that not only stands out visually but also delivers a delightful and distinctive experience, ensuring it becomes an essential companion that students are inspired to actively engage with.

I had the privilege of collaborating with a team of exceptionally talented designers on this project, each contributing their expertise in specific roles. Here I will clarify individual contributions! Initially, I took on the task of designing the book cover, aiming for a visually striking composition with captivating typography and colors. Progressing from cover design, I delved into page layout, establishing a grid system to harmonize all the contents within the book. Once the system was solidified, my focus shifted to determining image treatments and crafting the design for page spreads. After design was complete, I took the lead in overseeing the printing process, I also lead a mini binding workshop for the team, guiding them through the coptic binding and supervising the creation of the final 12 books. Concluding the project, I took on the role of creative director and photographer for a post-production photoshoot.

While my collaboration with the print team focused on crafting the physical guide, our digital team were busy developing a complementary app. Acknowledging the shift away from analog maps, the app was strategically designed to aid users in navigating their surroundings effortlessly. Not only did it offer navigation assistance, but it also featured smart filters for category and proximity, catering to the needs of freshmen without access to cars. Going beyond utility, the app embraced a social dimension, allowing students to share and capture their experiences by posting pictures from the listed locations, creating a vibrant community connection.

Throughout this project, I gained invaluable insights into the intricacies of designing multi-signature books. My key takeaway was growing in my ability to create a system that strikes a balance between rigidity for a cohesive look and feel and flexibility for usability across multiple designers and platforms. Additionally, the experience provided a significant learning curve in team collaboration and leadership. Understanding how to leverage each team member's strengths and delegate tasks effectively became a crucial aspect of my role.