With the cultural opening after 1980s, there has been a massive publication of picture books regardless of their nationalities due to increased interest on child education. However, compare to the rapidly enlarging picture book market, the importance...
With the cultural opening after 1980s, there has been a massive publication of picture books regardless of their nationalities due to increased interest on child education. However, compare to the rapidly enlarging picture book market, the importance and the recognition of picture books are not well established. Especially, the importance of storybook design is often failed to be noticed. Anew understanding on the effects of picture book on children needs to be set, and methods to improved visual composition of picture book haveto be considered as a way to it.
Based on theoretical background on picture book, chapter 2 of this thesis deals with definition, roles, functions, required production conditions of picture book, and the knowledge developmental stages attained by reading picture books. In chapter 3, picture book tendencies of Korea and other countries are discussed, and chapter 4 talks about the visual components of picture book- illustration, colors, lay out, typography, paper, and format. In chapter 5, three each of 2005 best seller Korean and foreign picture books were selected and their distinguished characteristics were discussed according to the visual design components. Then, with the presentation of the best seller book as a sample, survey was done to collect design preferences. The results were- first, Korean picture books mostly display realistic picture format, while foreign picture books display realistic, but simplified and exaggerated anti-conceptional illustration.
Second, in terms of color, Korean picture books with traditional techniques and colors are preferred these days. Different from former Korean picture books with primary colors, present ones display natures image with soft and bright colors. On the other hand, foreign picture books display author’s individuality with sensual and intentional colors, and in fact, it turned out that many people prefer these colors.
Third, in terms of layout, most of Korean picture books take stable form of painting composition while foreign picture books take various form of layout according to the situation of the page for efficient communication with the reader.
Fourth, in terms of typography, covers of Korean picture books show unique styles that match and express the stories and paintings while foreign picture books usually take gothic or roman types.
This study is for offering children the picture book with our emotions expressed with various techniques, by deduction of difference on design preference between Korea and foreign countries, through the research and surveys on preferences of visual components of picture books.
As much as picture book is worthy when it is for children, quality of picture book needs to be more various and specialized. Not only we should break the one, fixed style of picture book, but also we should repair and work on unique, striking design with the reference of foreign information. This will make our children to be closer to picture books, emotionally stabilized, and balanced in reading foreign picture books.
Therefore, ways to emphasize the importance of design on picture book and to strengthen its role has been discussed. I hope this study makes a small contribution on establishing better circumstance of children picture book publication.