Evolution of an idea!
The art design concept behind In The Spirit Of A Dream
When I conceived the idea for "In The Spirit of A Dream," I never anticipated the many trials and errors it would take to arrive at the final art direction. The book's core theme has been clear from the start - it's a book about first-generation immigrant stories.
Initially, I believed the design process would be straightforward with such a clear core theme. However, as we delved deeper into the theme, we realized the need to be more specific about our focus.
The same theme can convey different tones when the stories are told from a historical perspective versus a contemporary news angle or when they represent and celebrate contemporary immigrant stories.
During the early concept design stage, I initially approached it from a historical angle, using Native American visual symbolism to depict the story of early America. However, we later decided that since the book represents the experiences of contemporary American immigrants, it would be more powerful to focus on modern representations and narratives.
We left the copyright and dedication page to be designed last. After completing the 13 stories, we now have a much clearer vision of the book's big picture and how to design this "prologue" page. We have decided to celebrate the lives of everyday people, like you and me, and their families.
Left Page:
The top-left image draws its inspiration from my first job working on a WWII game, where I learned about the history of Japanese Americans during World War II. This image pays tribute to all people of color who dedicate their lives to America.
The top-right group image features caricatures of my friends.
The bottom two images are inspired by the stories of my friends' families.
Right Page:
The image on the left is inspired by my UCLA graduation photo. One of the things I regret the most is that my parents never got to attend my graduation or even visit the US. However, my teachers and classmates at UCLA were incredibly supportive and loving, and they became like a family to me when I was far from home.
They knew my family wouldn't be at my graduation, so they surprised me with flowers and threw a party to make the day special. They are like family. I will always be grateful for their love and support.
The image on the right is Aida and her mom.
I put my heart into all the books and illustrations I work on, but I have to admit that this spread is extra special to me. Each photo and object in this illustration holds precious memories from my immigrant journey.
The same goes for Aida and every illustrator working on this book. They all put a bit of their soul and stories into the illustrations, and it's all about celebrating life - the universal joy and hope regardless of each person's origins and skin color. It's about sharing human experiences that we all can relate to.
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