Colorful illustration of bees gathering nectar among various flowers, with the text 'Save the Bees!' in the center.

Save the Bees

Special Topic Project, Solo (8 weeks)

An investigation of a creative project that explores a context, subject and medium within the field of media design.

Tools: Adobe Photoshop & Procreate
Made a physical book.

A research-based exploration of how illustration and storytelling in book design can educate audiences about bee conservation and its vital role in our ecosystem.

  • Bees play a crucial role in pollination, contributing billions to New Zealand’s economy through the production of fruits and vegetables.

    However, the population of bee colonies in New Zealand has drastically declined, falling from a peak of 918,000 hives in 2019 to just 512,000 hives by 2025. Without human intervention, bees may soon become endangered, which could lead to significant disruptions in both the ecosystem and agriculture.

    Using illustrated book design in a storytelling approach effectively educates the public about the importance of saving bees in a visually engaging manner.

  • How can I use illustrated book design and storytelling to educate about bee conservation and its importance to our ecosystem?

    Medium : Illustrated book design
    Context : Storytelling
    Goal : Educate & Awareness
    Subject : Bee conservation

  • This was one of my most research-intensive projects, and I particularly enjoyed the research phase, where I learned about bees, their importance to the ecosystem, and how storytelling can support learning. This project also taught me that design goes beyond aesthetics, it is about understanding the audience and making research-informed decisions that support the project's purpose.

This study tested four hypotheses to answer the research question.

Each hypothesis is backed by research into the reasoning behind the question, along with documentation of my thought process as I worked through iterations to reach the outcome.

  • Illustration plays an important role in enhancing engagement by making the story more memorable and immersive. Through experimenting with various illustration mediums, it is clear that each style conveyed a different mood and level of detail. While watercolour and oil painting have a soft, visually appealing aesthetic, they lacked the vibrant energy the story needed. The crayon brush felt like the natural choice because of its rich texture, hand-drawn quality, and sense of depth, all of which complemented the story's cosy, natural atmosphere. Its familiarity with children made it an even better fit, as the warmth of the illustrations felt right for a young audience.

A digital illustration of various pink tulips, bluebell flowers, and a branch of pink apple blossoms with a bee on the blossoms.

  • Research shows that stories are easier to understand and remember than traditional scientific information, making storytelling a natural way to bring bee facts to life. Through experimentation with different perspectives, the story shifted from a human point of view to a farmer's and, finally, to a bee’s. From the bee's perspective, readers can connect emotionally with the subject and understand concepts such as pollination more meaningfully. By blending personalisation, emotion, and fiction, the story became genuinely enjoyable without losing its educational value, a good balance that keeps things light-hearted and accessible for children.

A flowchart with three versions explaining how bees help plants and their role in pollination, along with information about bee behavior, plant reproduction, and environmental impact, with references and some text in boxes.
A detailed infographic with three versions of a story about bee pollination from a farmer’s point of view, a bee’s point of view, and the final version, including additional notes and graphics about animal empathy and scientific research.

  • This experiment explored how interactive elements can enhance storytelling by transforming written concepts into hands-on learning experiences. Building on the narrative from the previous experiment, a range of interactions were designed to support engagement and understanding, such as guiding the bee, transferring pollen stickers, lift-the-flap discoveries, and planting flower pieces. Prototyping and peer feedback shaped many of the decisions along the way, particularly making materials more durable and sensory. Some suggestions, like placing a packet of real flower seeds in the book, hinted that learning doesn't stop once the book is closed. By the end, it was clear that giving readers something to touch, move, and do makes a real difference in how much they engage with, understand, and take away from a story.

A rough sketch illustrating bees' activities. It shows bees gathering nectar from flowers, visiting a flower to collect nectar, and returning to their hive or nest. There are also diagrams of a honeycomb structure, a beekeeper, and a bee smoker, with
Handwritten notes and simple sketches illustrating a project about bees and honey production. The notes include steps for bees landing on flowers, sticking pollen onto their bodies, dropping pollen, and transferring it to another flower. There are sk
A handwritten guide with drawings on planting bee-friendly flowers. It includes steps like placing pollen on flower petals, adding pollen onto bee's legs, and creating a 3D pop-up flower. The instructions mention planting flowers to support bees and
A hand-drawn sketch of a bee on paper with a handwritten note that says, 'I'm buzzing busily through the farmer's fields...' and a question at the bottom asking, 'Need thick cardboard paper?'.
A handwritten note with a drawing of a bee on a flower. The note explains how bees pollinate flowers by landing on them and collecting nectar and pollen.
Handwritten note on white paper with a sketch of a beehive. The note reads: 'When I finish my work in the fields, I return to my hive. Inside the hive, I share the pollen with the other bees to make honey and also care for the baby bees. Together we
Handwritten notes on white paper about bees and honey, with a small note at the bottom that says 'Together we keep our hive buzzing alive!'
A handwritten note on two pages of a notebook with some words written and some sentences partially visible at the bottom of the pages.
A handwritten note with a small drawing of three flowers in pots on the right side and two smaller flower drawings at the bottom left. The note mentions planting flowers around a farm and includes an instruction to place flowers in the ground.

  • This experiment focused on creating a realistic Honeybee character to support both storytelling and scientific accuracy. By telling the story from the bee’s perspective, readers can develop empathy for the animal and a greater appreciation of its role in the ecosystem. To make the bee relatable and engaging, research suggests that excessive anthropomorphism can create misconceptions and make it more difficult for children to distinguish between fiction and reality. Therefore, the character’s appearance was kept realistic through careful study of Honeybee anatomy and reference images. The findings indicate that realistic character design can enhance both engagement and factual learning while supporting the storybook’s educational purpose.

Sequence of bee illustrations from a realistic to a cartoon style

The Outcome

Cover Page
Colorful floral illustration with various flowers and a bee, containing a poetic quote about bees, flowers, and nectar.
A watercolor illustration of pink cherry blossoms on a branch, with a bee collecting nectar from one of the flowers, and a quote about flowers and pollen at the top.
Illustration of a gardening process showing five stages of planting and growing crops, with bees flying around and a tree with fruit.
A watercolor illustration of a honey bee flying near a honeycomb with bees on it, surrounded by pink blossoms on a tree branch, with a quote about bees and hive life.
Illustration of a garden with flowers, pumpkins, and a greenhouse. A person wearing a gray suit sprays the plants with insecticide, with bees nearby. A tree has a wasp nest, and bees are flying around. The text discusses farmland, pesticides, and was
A colorful garden scene with various flowers, bees, and a sign that reads 'Plant these flowers in the ground.'.
A colorful gardening-themed book cover with the title "Save the Bees!" featuring illustrations of bees, flowers, and gardening tools on a vibrant background.
A colorful poster featuring various flowers with a honey bee in the foreground. The poster has a poem and a small note at the bottom right that says, 'Stick the pollens onto the BEE!'.
An open children's book showing illustrations of flowers and a garden scene with bees, with text explaining pollination.
A children's book opened to a page with an illustration of bees pollinating flowers and a garden scene with a tree, flowers, and a hill.
A watercolor illustration of a honeybee on a flowering branch with pink blossoms and green leaves. The right side contains a large honey droplet with handwritten text about bees and honey.
Open children's book with colorful illustration of a beehive hanging from a tree with pink blossoms and bees flying around, and a white cut-out shape on the left side.
Illustration of a garden with colorful flowers, a greenhouse, and a person wearing a protective suit spraying insecticide. The right side shows a close-up of a wasp and bees, with a warning sign against insecticide use.
A colorful educational booklet about planting flowers and saving bees, with illustrations of various flowers, bees, and a basket of flowers on the left page. The right page has a yellow background with text and a smaller illustration of bees and flow

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