Illustration
Editorial/Narrative Illustration
Children’s Book Illustration
Comic/Sequential
This thesis project is a 34-page illustrated children’s book that explores themes of friendship, separation, and emotional growth through the story of a little girl named Zoe and her dinosaur friend. The project centers on the idea that parting can also become a form of belonging, and that love does not disappear when someone is gone, but instead continues quietly through memory, care, and emotional connection. Inspired by personal experiences, the narrative transforms complex emotions into a gentle and accessible visual story for both children and adults.
The story begins when Zoe discovers a magical egg in a capsule machine, which later hatches into a dinosaur and becomes her closest friend. Through everyday interactions such as drawing, playing, and picnicking, the two develop a warm and intimate bond. After a sudden storm separates them, Zoe embarks on a journey filled with clues and memories. As she follows footprints into the woods and eventually discovers a note from Dino, she uncovers her friend’s journey after their separation. Through this process, Zoe gradually learns to understand absence not as an ending, but as another form of connection. The project uses soft colors, expressive character design, and sequential storytelling to create an emotional atmosphere that balances joy, loss, and comfort.
The final presentation of the thesis will include a hardcover picture book alongside promotional items such as stickers and postcards. Combining illustration, narrative design, and bookmaking, the project investigates how children’s books can communicate emotional experiences through visual storytelling. By presenting separation with tenderness and hope, the thesis aims to create a story that resonates across different ages and cultural backgrounds, offering readers a sense of warmth, reassurance, and belonging.