Cuma Çetin, a student in the Visual Communication Design Department at Arkın University of Creative Arts and Design (ARUCAD), collaborated with the SOS Children's Village Association as part of his graduation project to design a unique children's book inspired by children's dreams. The project, titled "Dream Town," was developed focusing on the imaginary worlds of children aged 6-9.
Cuma Çetin conducted semi-structured interviews with children at the SOS Children's Village Association, recording their voices, collecting their drawings, and noting their statements. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed that the children created imaginary spaces that were safe, colorful, inclusive, and where no one was excluded.
Shaped based on the collected data, "Dream Town" was written and designed drawing inspiration from the children's sentences, emotions, and drawings. Every space and narrative element in the book bears traces of the dreams expressed by the children.
Cuma Çetin, the developer of the project, stated that children's dreams are often seen as "naive," but these dreams actually reflect their needs, fears, and hopes. Emphasizing that he chose to be a listener rather than a narrator in this process, Çetin stated that his aim was to convey the message to children, "I hear you, your dream is valuable." "Dream Town" is not just a children's book; it stands out as the product of a research-based and socially sensitive design approach that takes children's inner world seriously.
Graduation projects developed in the ARUCAD Visual Communication Design Department are noteworthy for strengthening students' creative production skills as well as their sense of social responsibility. Cuma Çetin's meaningful project offers a strong example of the potential of design to generate social benefit.
Cuma Çetin conducted semi-structured interviews with children at the SOS Children's Village Association, recording their voices, collecting their drawings, and noting their statements. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed that the children created imaginary spaces that were safe, colorful, inclusive, and where no one was excluded.
Shaped based on the collected data, "Dream Town" was written and designed drawing inspiration from the children's sentences, emotions, and drawings. Every space and narrative element in the book bears traces of the dreams expressed by the children.
Cuma Çetin, the developer of the project, stated that children's dreams are often seen as "naive," but these dreams actually reflect their needs, fears, and hopes. Emphasizing that he chose to be a listener rather than a narrator in this process, Çetin stated that his aim was to convey the message to children, "I hear you, your dream is valuable." "Dream Town" is not just a children's book; it stands out as the product of a research-based and socially sensitive design approach that takes children's inner world seriously.
Graduation projects developed in the ARUCAD Visual Communication Design Department are noteworthy for strengthening students' creative production skills as well as their sense of social responsibility. Cuma Çetin's meaningful project offers a strong example of the potential of design to generate social benefit.