Vanasa Liu
Inclusion | R, S, L
vanasaliu.myportfolio.com
Concept & Research
My approach to defining Similarity, Responsibility, and Language was very much shaped by visits to the Strong Museum of Play and researching the popular coming-of-age theme in 5th to 6th grade literature (unfortunately, I did not read every book in their curriculum). I felt it was right to prioritize world-building, animals, and room for creative interpretation.
R is for Responsibility
With Responsibility, I wanted to welcome one’s range of abilities in any collaborative environment, regardless of the task at hand. Integrating both animals in negative space allowed me to carry attention to their similar pasttimes. In the interactive portion, children get to hear Gordon (the Gorilla)and Finny (the Finch) speak.
S is for Similarity
Similarity was a term I conveyed neutrally because of its message. Although your peers may be in the same place as you, one may have access to certain opportunities that achieve the same goal than someone else. I highlighted each creature’s innate abilities required to live in the desert, rather than their personality.
L is for Language
Language returns to the same positive tone present in Responsibility. Walter, a whale and Sammy, a seahorse, bring unique ideas, thoughts, and feelings shaped by their experiences as a different species to conduct something novel in their lab experiment. Thematically, I felt science approriately represented universal language.
Recap
Inclusivity is a nuanced mindset but necessary for children to practice as they grow into adulthood. My major takeaway was content first; any visualization of interaction that followed must reveal new information. As a continuous challenge, I plan to keep practicing simplicity and clarity in conveying a message.
Downloadable Assets
You may use the below assets created for this project provided via Figma as long as you give attribution, share your outcomes, and if your use is non-commercial in nature.
