Introduction This blog post aims to develop a promotional social media campaign for the Steel City Clean Up picture book. As the target audience for promotion is mainly adults and educational institutions, platforms such as Instagram and Facebook will be effective places for online promotion. These platforms will allow me to reach a wider audience and engage with potential readers through visually appealing content and targeted advertising. Additionally to Instagram and Facebook, platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn could also be used to reach out to educational institutions. It is essential to consider where my target audiences spend the majority of their online time to be able to tailor the campaign strategy accordingly. Market Research As Kantar states, ‘Marketing research is a critical tool that businesses and organisations can use to gather valuable information about their target market and industry. By conducting research, businesses can gain insights into customer needs and behaviour, stay competitive, make informed decisions, manage risk, and measure success.’ (Kantar, 2023). Conducting market research plays and important role in shaping the success of the social media campaign. By conducting research I will gain an insight into how customers use social media to make purchases. Having an insight into online behaviour, needs and preferences I will be able to create an engaging campaign, which will entice people to purchase The Steel City Clean Up for their children to enjoy. Nosycrow Instagram Campaign Below are screenshots of The Nosycrow Instagram page, serving as an example of how I could effectively use the platform for promoting my own social media campaign centered around Broomhall Books and The Steel City Clean Up. Instagram provides the user versatile tools such as story uploads, image carousels, reels and interactive elements, all of which I can utilize to engage with my audience in a creative way. Moreover, the platforms hashtag functionality enables further reach amongst audiences. By incorporating these elements into my Instagram campaign, I will effectively capture the attention and foster engagement of my target audience. Additionally, actively engaging with users through direct message and comments will play a vital role in cultivating a sense of community and trust surrounding the campaigns goals. Harper Collins Children’s books Facebook Campaign Below are screenshots of the Harper Collins Children’s Book Facebook page. Similar to how I could utilise Instagram to engage with the target audience for Broomhall Books and The Steel City Clean Up, Facebook offers a similar range of interactive elements I could use as promotional tools. Furthermore, I am also able to use direct messaging and commenting to create a wider sense of community and trust. While Instagram and Facebook share similarities as social media platforms, their user demographics differ slightly. Facebook tends to attract a larger audience of older users, while Instagram has a higher percentage of younger users. Using both platforms for my campaign will enable me to reach a broader audience across differing age groups. Therefore, ensuring a maximum reach and exposure for campaign engagement, resulting in a larger community and more book sales. The statistics to support this can be seen in the image below. Waterstones Email Campaign Email marketing is a powerful tool for engaging with my audience and driving campaign results. To effectively utilise email marketing, I will design a welcome email that will be sent out to all new users that sign up for an account at www.broomhallbook.com. Producing personalised content such as newsletters, special offers and exclusive updates will aid in enticing the users to engage with the website. Additionally, incorporating clear call-to-actions (CTA) I will guide users towards desired actions, whether that is to make an online purchase, sharing the campaign with friends or signing up for community events.  Social Media Campaign Development Initial Ideas The initial ideas below are examples of different marketing campaigns I could develop to promote The Steel City Clean Up and Broomhall Books. Community engagement events – Tree planting, recycling workshop or litter pick. Book launch party – virtual party, in person party, book signing event, story time event. Behind the scenes – Share videos of behind the scenes illustrating the book, reels. Competitions – Launch a competition for children to make something crafty out of household recycled materials. Prizes.Create your own environmentally conscious hero character competition.   Posts – Character profile posts, fun facts, introductions, behind the scenes. I have decided to develop a marketing campaign to promote Broomhall Books and The Steel City Clean Up. The campaign will be a competition, with the aim of inspiring parents and children to partake in a design your own eco-warrior game, which is in keeping with the theme of the book. This competition will be communicated through Instagram, and Facebook. The winner will receive a copy of The Steel City Clean Up. Marketing Campaign Instagram Carousel Campaign Facebook Post Campaign References Buy books, stationery and gifts, online and in store | waterstones (no date) Waterstones. Available at: https://www.waterstones.com/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024). Kantar (2023) 5 reasons why marketing research is important to your business, Kantar. Available at: https://www.kantar.com/inspiration/research-services/why-marketing-research-is-important-pf#:~:text=research%20with%20Kantar-,Marketing%20research%20is%20a%20critical%20tool%20that%20businesses%20and%20organisations,manage%20risk%2C%20and%20measure%20success. (Accessed: 24 April 2024). Unlimited stock videos, music, Photos & Graphics (no date) Envato Elements. Available at: https://elements.envato.com/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).  Nosycrow (no date) Nosycrow , Login • instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/nosycrow/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024). Zote, J. (2024) Social media demographics to inform your 2024 strategy, Sprout Social. Available at: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/new-social-media-demographics/ (Accessed: 29 April 2024).

Introduction This blog post aims to develop a companion app dedicated to the children of my target audience. The app will provide a safe space for children to learn and discover more about environmental issues. Instilling an environmentally conscious mind-set in the next generation and creating a healthier community. Below is a recap on the project intentions for the development of the app.  Requirements Gathering and Analysis The below images and Padlet page explore current live companion apps. Documenting key words and observations will help in creating a more user centric app for my target audience to enjoy.  Padlet Link – https://padlet.com/ardalton2021/app-requirements-gathering-ecirrl7egbixbze0 Problem Space The problem space for the companion app also revolves around environmental education. As previously discussed in the website problem space section. The app will explore a range of environmental issues in a child friendly manner. The main goal for the app is to create a safe and educational space for children to enjoy. Target Audience The main target audience for the app includes children aged 3 – 5 years old. Stakeholders Stakeholders remain the same as discussed in the website development post. These include, environmental organisations, recycling companies, educational institutions and more large-scale organisations committed to environmental conservation. Defining the User Experience (UX) As previously discussed throughout the website development post, it is important to consider the five usability principles when designing for the web. This is no different when designing for a companion app. My companion app will consider, learnability, efficiency, memorability, safety and satisfaction. The user experience (UX) of the companion app will be designed to be immersive, and educational, tailored specifically for the target audience of children. The app will be a dynamic extension of the website, offering games, quizzes, and activities for children to get involved in. The games, quizzes and activities will all have an environmentally conscious theme to stay in-line with the children’s picture book theme. The companion app will be crafted to provide a seamless and learnable user journey perfect for young users, with their needs of internet safety at the forefront of the application. (Stevens, 2022). The companion app will solely be a safe space for children to interact further with the themes of ‘The Steel City Clean Up’ and more including, Ensuring the companion app is a safe space there will be no call-to-actions regarding the website. This is to limit the chances of children surfing the internet, purchasing goods, or accessing sensitive information by mistake. User Journey The user journey prompt sheet I created for the app follows that same motivations as the website user journeys from the previous post. Analysing how children may use the app before development starts ensures fluidity and purposeful creation. Ensuring that I have a clear journey I would like the app to follow will ensure it stays fresh and easy to navigate for young minds. User Interface (UI) Principles to be Applied The app will have a carefully crafted user interface (UI) for young children. The app will feature bright and inviting visuals and colours, coupled with a simple navigation and age appropriate language to create a welcoming atmosphere. This will ensure the child doesn’t feel overwhelmed when using the interface, promoting a space for learning and discovery. Each game or activity within the app will be interactive and rewarding, offering children the opportunity to win prices or unlock new levels of game play. By ensuring the games are fun but also educational will ensure children stay engaged without getting bored, as attention spans are short lived. Overall, the companion app will be a safe and enjoyable learning experience and extension to the picture book, ‘The Steel City Clean Up’. As it is important to adhere to design laws when designing anything for the web or app store, I will consider a few of these when designing the companion app. These will include, Aesthetic-Usability Effect, Law of Pragnanz, and Millers Law. ‘Aesthetic-Usability Effect – Users often perceive aesthetically pleasing design as design that’s more usable.’ (Yablonski). Ensuring that the companion app have a child friendly and aesthetically pleasing design will ensure children want to keep coming back to the app. ‘Law of Pragnanz – People will perceive and interpret ambiguous or complex images as the simplest form possible, because it is the interpretation that requires the least cognitive effort of us.’ (Yablonski). Ensuring the app uses simple shapes and language will ensure optimal learning and discovery amongst children with different learning paces. ‘Millers Law – The average person can only keep 7 (plus or minus 2) items in their working memory.’ (Yablonski). Ensuring that games and quizzes are kept short and sweet will ensure maximum learnability and memorability. Along with keeping quizzes to maximum of 3 multi choice answers. This will ensure the children stay connected to the app and don’t lose interest. As the app will be designed solely for children, it is important to keep the parents and educational institutions separate from the application. This will ensure children don’t get confused or frustrated when they cannot access areas specifically for adults. Although this will be separate adults will be the ones responsible for their child’s involvement with the app. Finally, call-to-actions will also be included in the app. These will be solely used to direct children to new games and activity releases.   Low Fidelity Prototype As previously explained in the website development post, the preliminary low-fidelity prototype provides a free-flowing foundation for exploring ideas. This offers flexibility without the need for aesthetically pleasing results. The prototype showcases essential features to be developed for the children’s app. Mid Fidelity Prototype Transitioning to the mid-fidelity prototype, also developed in Adobe XD. The prototype represents a redefined version of the developing app. This blueprint will ensure accurate completion of the app. Final App Design  Below is the final Broomhall Books children’s app, made in Adobe XD. References          

Introduction This blog post aims to develop a comprehensive website based on and around the children’s picture book ‘The Steel City Clean Up’. The website must exceed user expectations and provide valuable information about the book, new releases, upcoming events and more. Understanding user experience and user interface principle will ensure the successful completion of the website, leading onto the companion app. Below is a recap on the project intentions for the development of the app.  Requirements Gathering and Analysis The below images and Padlet page explore current live websites. Documenting key words and observations will help in creating a more user centric website for my target audience to enjoy.  Padlet Link – https://padlet.com/ardalton2021/website-requirements-gathering-4s20ih6ivhbl64t0 Problem Space The problem space to be addressed throughout the website design for ‘The Steel City Clean Up’ revolves around environmental awareness. As the final picture book focuses on plastic pollution, I would like to make space for new releases that explore other environmental issues. The website will aim to bridge the gap between environmental education and engaging story telling. Providing a solution for adults seeking resources to educate themselves and their children in a meaningful and accessible way. Additionally, the website must provide the users with an accessible way of learning and purchasing new books. Making it easier for parents and teachers to inspire positive change in their communities.  Target audience The target audiences for the website primarily compromise of adults and teachers who are seeking educational resources and engaging content to teach children and inspire them to be more environmentally conscious. The adult target audience are assumed to be actively trying to promote values of sustainability in the next generation and form a more responsible community. Additionally, the website has a secondary target audience, the children. As the children themselves will not likely be using the website themselves it is important to ensure the content is easily accessible for them, this could be in the form of printable assets that adults could give to them or lesson plans containing class drama/roleplay games.  Stakeholders Alongside the target audience is the potential stakeholders for the website. These could include environmental organisations, recycling companies, educational institutions and more large-scale organisations committed to environmental conservation. Environmental organizations have interest in supporting initiatives that promote awareness and action towards environmental conservation, making them potential partners or sponsors. Recycling companies may also see value in book’s message and the website, as it promotes recycling and reuse of materials, potentially leading to increased brand visibility and positive connections. Finally, as already highlighted in the target audience are educational institutions and teachers. Such as schools and libraries that may incorporate the book into their curriculums and book rotations. Therefore also reaching more people and potential investors.  Defining the User Experience (UX) It is crucial to prioritize the five usability principles of user experience (UX) when designing the website. Firstly, ensuring learnability is considered is an essential in web design. Enabling visitors to intuitively understand how to navigate the site as they would their most used sites is crucial for customer satisfaction. Ensuring my website is easily learnable through the addition of clear labelling, intuitive navigation menus and call-to-actions are important to exceed the customers’ expectations of the new website. Guiding users seamlessly to the information they’re looking for should be a breeze and ensure they stay on the website for as long as possible. (Stevens , 2022). Secondly, efficiency is a vital principle for streamlining any action on the website such as finding the right information for the users’ needs to the purchasing process with concise forms and clear call-to-actions, minimising any unnecessary options or extra steps at checkout. (Stevens , 2022).Thirdly, prioritising memorability by creating a visually engaging and memorable design that resonates with the target audience, is crucial for leaving a lasting impression and encouraging return visits to the website. (Stevens , 2022). Fourthly, safety and error prevention are important for many reasons when designing a child safe website. Ensuring there are validation prompts and user-friendly navigation systems in place help prevent mistakes during purchasing or navigation. Enhancing user satisfaction, customer trust and reducing frustration. (Stevens , 2022). Finally, ensuring customer satisfaction by providing an excellent customer support service and feedback section, allows users to voice their thoughts, concerns and ask questions easily. By committing to this usability principle, the website will not only inform users about the captivating children’s book but also provide a seamless experience when making purchases and reading up on coming up events and activities. Promoting customer loyalty and satisfaction. (Stevens , 2022). With these principles in mind, my website will include several elements to enhance user engagement, promote sales and satisfaction: By incorporating these into the website I will be able to create a comprehensive and engaging platform that not only promotes the children’s book ‘The Steel City Clean Up’ but also foster a sense of community and enthusiasm among the target audiences.  User Journeys The below user journeys for the website serve as invaluable prompts to refer to when designing. Analysing how people may interact with the website and its content, I can gain an insight into what is classed as important information and what is vital for website success. Examples of user flow journeys aids in the creation of a seamless navigation and digital environment. This will ensure a structure that is presented in a logical and intuitive manner. User Interface (UI) Principles to be Applied When designing the user interface (UI) for the website. I must ensure that I adhere to fundamental principles to ensure a seamless and engaging experience for all who use it. Three design laws crucial for a successful website include Hicks Law, Fitts Law and Gestalt Principles.  ‘Hicks Law – The time is takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices.’ (Yablonski). Minimizing the number of choices, the user has to make will ensure the website is concise and not overwhelming. It is important to not simplify the options to much as this can lead to

Introduction This blog post aims to bring the process of designing the narrative and illustrations for The Steel City Clean Up together. I will use mock-ups to communicate the final printed book. I will also showcase the process of designing captivating covers for the book. Typeface Exploration The below images showcase the development process of finding the most fitting and legible font for the narrative sections of the book. Further Development The below images showcase the development process of laying the book illustrations out in Adobe Illustrator and adding the narrative. Challenges I faced a challenge when laying out the final picture book narrative on top of the illustrations in Adobe Illustrator. While the storyboard from the layout development post provided a roadmap for the narrative flow (as seen in figure ten below), adapting it to fit the illustrations required careful adjustment. I had to reconsider the placement of text but also negative space within the illustrations to ensure readability and visual harmony. This meant deviating from the initial plan as the illustrations needed varying amounts of space available for the text narrative. Although I had to slightly adjust this, the amendments ensured the story outcome remained captivating. The Steel City Clean Up Cover Development The below images showcase the development process behind the book covers, created using Procreate and Adobe Illustrator. The Steel City Clean Up Mock Ups The below images are mock-ups of the final children’s book The Steel City Clean Up. References Unlimited stock videos, music, Photos & Graphics (no date) Envato Elements. Available at: https://elements.envato.com/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024). 

Introduction This blog post aims to develop a brand identity for my book publishing brand. The identity must be in keeping with the overall themes of my final children’s picture book. Before I can develop my own publishing brand and identity for ‘The Steel City Clean Up’, I must research other successful brands in the industry. I have chosen to draw inspiration from the famous publishing company ’Penguin’. I have purposely chosen Penguin as the brand has a huge legacy of successful story books, with classic literature and timeless stories. By aligning my brand development with the iconic Penguin logo, I aim to create a fresh identity that resonates with adults and children. Publication Initial Research ‘Penguin Books was originally founded in the UK in 1935 by Allen Lane, who envisioned a collection of quality, attractive books affordable enough to be “bought as easily and casually as a packet of cigarettes.”’(Jaronson, 2022). The below images are snippets of Penguins brand identity development. The branding has slightly changed over the years but one thing has remained consistent the penguin. Although the penguin’s stance and overall positioning has differed throughout the years, the brand remains memorable and relevant. This is something I aim to portray within my own brand development. Initial ideation Following on from the initial Penguin research, an idea struck to mind. Incorporating the bear from Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens into my own logo will add a unique and personal touch to the brand. This idea also links well with the overall story of ‘The Steel City Clean Up’ as this is set in Sheffield and takes valuable inspiration from Penguin. As my book is aimed at children, the idea that the logo should include the Botanical Gardens bear seems fitting. As my logo will incorporate the bear in some way, I have decided to call the publication brand Broomhall Books, as this is the location of Botanical Gardens and the bear. Naming the brand ‘Broomhall Books’ is a fitting choice, incorporating a strong sense of local identity into the brand. Broomhall is also a well-known area in Sheffield. Using it in my brand design name could help me establish a connection with the community and create a sense of authenticity. The name also conjures imagery of a cozy neighborhood book shop, where readers can discover niche and hidden literary gems.  By combining the timeless appeal of an animal symbol with the local charm of Sheffield, the brand and book will stand out from the crowded publishing landscape as wholesome and comforting. Especially to those familiar with the settings involved. A brief history behind the bear and bear pit located inside Botanical Gardens, Sheffield. The bear pit once housed a black bear named Bruin. His sole purpose in 1836 was to entertain customers. He had a single tree in the centre of his enclosure to climb. Although it is said that he wasn’t interested in climbing the tree and so was sadly labelled as boring. (UGC, 2021). To honour Bruin the bear, there is now a steel sculpture located in the bear pit that has rusted over the years and formed a bear like colouring which makes him more realistic. Although the original story is sad, today many people come to visit the bear pit and children absolutely love him, which also aids in my initial ideation of using the bear within my brand design. Design Development The below images are my initial logo conceptions, developed in Procreate. I have also added the name of the publishing brand to gain further appreciation for my initial thoughts and ideas. I will further develop these starting points in Adobe Illustrator, to craft the thoughtful brand I intend to produce. Logo Refinement in Adobe Illustrator The below images showcase initial logo refinement in Adobe Illustrator. Book Suitability Markers The below logo marks have been developed to communicate age suitability for differing stories published by Broomhill Books. This will aid parents and teachers when finding the most suitable book for the child/children in mind. The logo mark will be placed on the back of each book so. Final Brand Mark Verbal Identity Broomhall Books: Inspiring Eco-Conscious Minds, One Story at a Time. At Broomhall Books, we promise to blend creativity with a passion for the planet. Offering meticulously crafted children’s picture books that inspire environmental awareness in young minds. Our commitment to brilliance ensures that every book we publish is not only engaging and beautiful but also aligns with our mission to cultivate a greener future for all. Join us as we inspire greatness within the next generation. BroomhallBooks: Inspiring Eco-Conscious Minds, One Story at a Time.  Brand Guidelines The below PDF is a brand guidelines document I have developed in Adobe In-Design, to ensure brand consistency. The aim of this document is to ensure anyone producing work for Broomhall Books abides by the brands ethos and identity. References Angel, G. (2024) Sheffield – Botanical Gardens, Flickr. Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/47859152@N05/49489428258 (Accessed: 24 April 2024). Bob (2018) Designed to inspire: Logos, Mzuri Design Blog. Available at: https://www.mzuri.co.uk/news/general/designed-to-inspire-logos-clear-simple-distinctive/ (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Creative Review (2018) Edward Young’s Penguin logo designed in 1935, Creative Review. Available at: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/penguin-logo-edward-young/ (Accessed: 09 December 2023). FMP brand identity inspiration on Pinterest, Pinterest. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/AmberRoseGraphicDesign/fmp-brand-identity-inspiration/ (Accessed: 07 December 2023). HarperCollins UK Publishers Ltd. (no date) HarperCollins Publishers UK. Available at: https://harpercollins.co.uk/ (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Jaronson (2022) Welcome to penguin: We are what you read, Penguin Books. Available at: https://www.penguin.com/our-story-timeline/#:~:text=Penguin%20Books%20was%20originally%20founded,1939%2C%20called%20Penguin%20Books%20Ltd. (Accessed: 21 April 2024). Macmillan Children’s books (no date) SoundCloud. Available at: https://soundcloud.com/pan-macmillan/sets/macmillan-childrens-books (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Mineral creative blog (2016) Mineral creative blog. Ladybird Book of…, Mineral Creative. Available at: https://mineralcreative.co.uk/the-ladybird-book-of/ (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Penguin (2020) How the penguin logo has evolved through the years, Penguin Books UK. Available at: https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/09/penguin-books-logo-history-edward-young-allen-lane (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Penguin Classics Book (no date) Encounters with the Greatest Library in the World. Available at: https://www.penguinclassicsbook.co.uk/ (Accessed: 09 December 2023). Sheffield Botanical Gardens (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Botanical_Gardens (Accessed: 24 April 2024). Topher (no date) Penguin Group Logo Development from 1935 to present day, Everything Graphic Design and Web Development. Available at: http://www.designshifts.com/penguin-group-logo-development-from-1935-up-to-today/ (Accessed: 09