Golden A' Design Award Winner 2020
The visual communication system embedded within this educational design operates through multiple symbolic registers that collectively construct meaning around learning, play, and contemporary childhood experience. The pixel-art aesthetic functions as a powerful cultural signifier, immediately invoking the visual vocabulary of video gaming—a domain associated with engagement, achievement, skill progression, and intrinsic motivation—and transplanting these positive associations onto educational content. The cubic, voxel-like construction of both illustrated and three-dimensional characters references digital world-building games, suggesting that learning itself constitutes a form of construction and creative assembly. The tetradic color scheme carries pedagogical symbolism: pink traditionally associated with social and linguistic learning, green with natural sciences and growth, orange with mathematical warmth and logical thinking, blue with calm focus and scientific inquiry. Each character's distinctive props and poses encode subject-matter identity while maintaining family resemblance through consistent pixel resolution and proportional systems. The speech-bubble typography evokes comic book and manga traditions, positioning educational content within narrative and conversational frameworks rather than purely instructional modes. The stepped display arrangement creates ascending visual hierarchy, potentially symbolizing educational progression and achievement levels. The three-dimensional paper figures serve as transitional objects between digital representation and physical reality, embodying the learning system's invitation to move between screen-based and hands-on engagement. The number designation system visible on covers establishes clear curricular coordinates, transforming what might otherwise seem like playful objects into components of a systematic educational architecture designed to support structured learning journeys.
Wanja is a brand that enhances the learning skills of students. From cover designs using cube-shaped characters as graphic motifs to cube-shaped paper toy making activities, Wanja provides a consistent brand experience. The vivid colors provide a bright brand image, while paper toy making delivers an enjoyable brand experience. The four study books are designed such that a large cube shape can be shown when they are combined together. The text inside the book also makes use of square design elements to complete a consistent brand identity.