Joyful Visang: A New Era of Textbook Design

Jaehun Kim's Innovative Approach to Engaging, Activity-Centered Learning

Jaehun Kim, along with a team of talented designers, embarked on a mission to transform the landscape of textbook design. Recognizing that modern students, exposed to diverse media and designs, found traditional textbooks banal, Kim sought to create textbooks that would spark curiosity and interest. The result is Joyful Visang, a series of play and activity-oriented textbooks that encourage active student participation.

The unique properties of Joyful Visang lie in its innovative design approach. The mathematics textbook cover, for instance, combines several geometric shapes to express the appearance of objects in the world. The social studies text evokes curiosity by 'looking into the world' as it unfolds in the book. The science text stimulates the power of imagination with stories of heroes. These designs are not just aesthetically pleasing, but they also demonstrate the applicability of learning content to students.

Kim and his team utilized a variety of technologies and techniques to realize their vision. They prioritized student safety by using antibacterial coating and rounding the corners of the books. They also added function and aesthetics through post-processing techniques. For example, the math text uses a foldable flap that serves as a bookmark, and the science textbooks employ 3D lenticular technology, giving a moving, three-dimensional effect to the subject.

The design process for Joyful Visang began in January 2020 and was completed in October 2021 in Korea. The project was based on extensive research and experimentation, with the aim of creating textbooks that are play and activity-centered. The team faced the challenge of transforming traditional textbook designs to appeal to digital natives, who are accustomed to colorful designs and various media. They successfully overcame this challenge by designing textbooks that fully cultivate student subject competencies through remote classes or self-regulated learning.

Jaehun Kim's Joyful Visang is a testament to the power of innovative design in education. It is a shining example of how design can transform traditional learning materials into engaging, curiosity-sparking tools for education. The success of Joyful Visang is reflected in its recognition as a Silver A' Design Award winner, a prestigious accolade awarded to designs that showcase outstanding expertise and innovation.