Textbook for foreigners

There were no Bulgarian textbooks tailored for refugee and migrant children.

The young learners had to use textbooks designed for adults, which led to teachers raising concerns that the content was not age-appropriate. I teamed up with educators from an NGO, an ad agency and the Commissariat of Refugees UN to create the solution for this problem.

photo of people at museum

About the project

The task was to help design a textbook that speaks to children across a wide age range, from first graders to teens. Following the journeys of three main characters: Raisa, a girl from Odesa; Samir, a boy from Afghanistan; and Elena, a fellow student assisting them in learning Bulgarian. Together we’ve created an engaging resource that goes beyond mere translation. Vibrant illustrations and approachable layout provide a warm introduction to the language, helping these young students feel less like outsiders and more like a part of their new communities.

watercolor painting of building near sea
watercolor impressionist painting
painting of the water
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of girl holding branches
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
""

Characters

painting of man wearing a scarf

Raisa

Ukrainian girl dreaming to become a painter and open up a gallery

painting of woman with headband

Samir

Fled Afghanistan and wants to be a airplane pilot and travel the world

painting of man with beard

Elena

Native Bulgarian who helps Raisa and Samir in their studies, loves reading and hopes to be a writer

Production

Year

2022

Roles

Creative Direction

Art Direction

Graphic Design

Illustration

Printing

Print house:Bulged

Credentials

Commissioned by:NGO ReachOut;

UN Refugee AgencyIllustrations:Anastasia Verzun

photo of gallery building

Hristiyan

Current location:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Design matters

hello@figma.com

Textbook for foreigners

There were no Bulgarian textbooks tailored for refugee and migrant children.

The young learners had to use textbooks designed for adults, which led to teachers raising concerns that the content was not age-appropriate. I teamed up with educators from an NGO, an ad agency and the Commissariat of Refugees UN to create the solution for this problem.

photo of people at museum

About the project

The task was to help design a textbook that speaks to children across a wide age range, from first graders to teens. Following the journeys of three main characters: Raisa, a girl from Odesa; Samir, a boy from Afghanistan; and Elena, a fellow student assisting them in learning Bulgarian. Together we’ve created an engaging resource that goes beyond mere translation. Vibrant illustrations and approachable layout provide a warm introduction to the language, helping these young students feel less like outsiders and more like a part of their new communities.

watercolor painting of building near sea
watercolor impressionist painting
painting of the water
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of girl holding branches
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
""

Characters

painting of man wearing a scarf

Raisa

Ukrainian girl dreaming to become a painter and open up a gallery

painting of woman with headband

Samir

Fled Afghanistan and wants to be a airplane pilot and travel the world

painting of man with beard

Elena

Native Bulgarian who helps Raisa and Samir in their studies, loves reading and hopes to be a writer

Production

Year

2022

Roles

Creative Direction

Art Direction

Graphic Design

Illustration

Printing

Bulged

Credentials

Commissioned by:NGO ReachOut;

UN Refugee AgencyIllustrations:Anastasia Verzun

photo of gallery building

Hristiyan

Current location:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Design matters

Textbook for foreigners

There were no Bulgarian textbooks tailored for refugee and migrant children.

The young learners had to use textbooks designed for adults, which led to teachers raising concerns that the content was not age-appropriate. I teamed up with educators from an NGO, an ad agency and the Commissariat of Refugees UN to create the solution for this problem.

photo of people at museum

About the project

The task was to help design a textbook that speaks to children across a wide age range, from first graders to teens. Following the journeys of three main characters: Raisa, a girl from Odesa; Samir, a boy from Afghanistan; and Elena, a fellow student assisting them in learning Bulgarian. Together we’ve created an engaging resource that goes beyond mere translation. Vibrant illustrations and approachable layout provide a warm introduction to the language, helping these young students feel less like outsiders and more like a part of their new communities.

watercolor painting of building near sea
watercolor impressionist painting
painting of the water
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of girl holding branches
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
painting of man hiking in snow
""

Characters

painting of man wearing a scarf

Raisa

Ukrainian girl dreaming to become a painter and open up a gallery

painting of woman with headband

Samir

Fled Afghanistan and wants to be a airplane pilot and travel the world

painting of man with beard

Elena

Native Bulgarian who helps Raisa and Samir in their studies, loves reading and hopes to be a writer

Production

Year

2022

Roles

Creative Direction

Art Direction

Layout Design

Printing

Bulged

Credentials

Commissioned by:NGO ReachOut;

UN Refugee AgencyIllustrations:Anastasia Verzun

photo of gallery building

Hristiyan

Current location:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Design matters