Children on the Move Publication | Ekphrastics
Children on the Move Publication by Jiayan He

Children on the Move Publication

Bronze A' Design Award Winner 2025

Jiayan He's Children On The Move Publication displays a sophisticated aerial arrangement of educational materials across a pristine white surface, establishing an isometric compositional schema that creates visual rhythm through deliberate overlapping and angular displacement of rectangular printed elements. The dominant focal point materializes through a central white booklet whose cover presents a circular photographic vignette framed by organic abstract shapes in saturated cerulean blue, warm golden yellow, vibrant coral red, and fresh spring green, these chromatic accents creating a complementary and triadic harmony that radiates optimism and accessibility. The circular photograph depicts two young children in an intimate embrace, their genuine expressions of joy and connection establishing immediate emotional resonance and human warmth at the compositional heart. Secondary elements radiate outward in measured asymmetrical balance, revealing interior page spreads featuring isometric architectural illustrations rendered in soft pastel tones including pale aqua, gentle lavender, warm sand, and muted rose, these illustrations depicting urban environments with simplified geometric buildings, miniature human figures, vehicles, and infrastructure elements that suggest narrative scenarios of movement, migration, and community spaces. The color palette demonstrates sophisticated restraint, balancing saturated accent colors against extensive neutral white grounds and softly tinted illustration passages, creating high-key luminosity with selective chromatic emphasis that guides visual hierarchy without overwhelming. Lighting appears diffuse and even, characteristic of professional publication photography, eliminating dramatic shadows to ensure all textual and illustrative content remains clearly legible while subtle cast shadows beneath overlapping pages provide gentle spatial depth cues. The typographic treatment visible across multiple spreads employs clean sans-serif faces in various weights, with body text in comfortable reading sizes and hierarchical emphasis through scale variation, weight contrast, and strategic color application including highlighted passages in bright yellow and key terms in cerulean blue that echo the cover accent palette. Textural variety emerges through the contrast between crisp matte-finish paper stock, the tactile suggestion of printed ink density, and the dimensional quality created by the layered arrangement of multiple publication elements. Edge treatment remains consistently sharp and precise, befitting contemporary editorial design standards, with clean margins and confident compositional breathing room. The isometric viewing angle and deliberate scatter arrangement suggest exhibition photography or promotional documentation, positioning these educational materials as physical artifacts worthy of contemplation and aesthetic appreciation beyond their utilitarian function. Stylistically, the work aligns with contemporary information design and educational publishing movements emphasizing visual accessibility, engaging illustration, human-centered content, and thoughtful integration of photography with diagrammatic elements. The illustrations themselves demonstrate affinity with contemporary flat design aesthetics, utilizing simplified geometric forms, limited perspective depth, and cheerful optimistic color application to create approachable scenarios that translate complex social concepts into visually digestible narratives. The overall atmospheric resonance conveys warmth, invitation, educational purpose, child-centered design thinking, and institutional care, suggesting materials created with genuine attention to young audiences and the adults who guide them through challenging conversations about displacement, migration, and social change. The careful balance between playful illustration and serious photographic documentation of childhood emotion creates dignified acknowledgment of difficult subject matter while maintaining appropriate developmental accessibility and visual engagement suitable for educational contexts serving diverse communities experiencing mobility and transition.

Children on the move face severe risks, yet reliable definition and data for protection is lacking. To address this gap, Idac (a cross-sectoral global coalition jointly led by Eurostat, Iom, Oecd, Unhcr and Unicef), released this publication, offering essential definitions, data, and practices. Three isometric infographic illustrations are created to define, distinguish and explain the various situations and statuses of children on the move. Standardizing migration terms is crucial for accurately identifying and supporting these children, ensuring evidence based policies for their wellbeing.