A mixed-media accordion artist book inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, exploring transformation, environment, and visual storytelling through layered materials and immersive composition.
Project Concept
This project is inspired by the Dungeons & Dragons druid ability Wild Shape, which allows transformation into different animals across environments. I wanted to explore how transformation could be expressed visually through both environment and form, creating a narrative that moves through different stages of a druid’s journey.
The goal was to highlight the potential of this ability while turning it into a visual storytelling experience rather than just a game mechanic.
Inspiration/ Mood board
The mood board focused on three key ideas: Environment (forest, farm, jungle, ocean, fantasy realms), Creatures (wolves, dragons, sea life, land animals), and Material textures (moss, wood, organic elements)
Visually, I was drawn to: layered paper illustrations, natural textures like moss-covered books, fantasy creature artwork, and earthy tones and organic forms
These references helped shape the book's direction, making it feel immersive, natural, and magical at the same time.
Exploration
I explored how to represent transformation across multiple scenes using layout and sequencing. Early sketches mapped out different environments, including: farm, forest, jungle, ocean, and fantasy/dragon setting.
Each environment introduced a different creature and atmosphere, allowing the story to evolve visually from page to page.
I also explored how the viewer would move through the piece, experimenting with ways to make the transformation feel continuous rather than as separate moments.
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Design Decisions
I chose a mixed-media accordion book format to support continuous storytelling. This allowed each page to connect visually and physically, reinforcing the idea of transformation as an ongoing journey rather than isolated scenes.
Each spread was designed to balance creature, environment, and movement, making the transformation feel natural and evolving.
Original inspiration for choosing the accordion design
The Mix-Media Accordion Book form.
The bookbinding Gabby Cooksey created for the 7 Skulls book.
Close Up of Sketch Process
Cover Sketch
Farm Sketch
Forrest Sketch
Jungle Sketch
Ocean Sketch
Dragon Sketch
Process Development
The project moved through the following stages:
- initial concept inspired by artist books and DnD themes
- sketching layouts and environments
- building a mockup to test structure and flow
- refining materials and composition
- developing the final accordion book
- sketching layouts and environments
- building a mockup to test structure and flow
- refining materials and composition
- developing the final accordion book
This step-by-step process helped refine both the narrative and physical construction of the piece.
Final Result Gallery
REflection
This project expanded my understanding of how form, material, and structure can work together to tell a story. It pushed me to think beyond flat design and consider how a viewer physically interacts with a piece. It also reinforced my interest in visual storytelling and immersive design, where concept and experience are equally important.
