My Master of Design (Hon.) at COFA, UNSW focused on one question:
How can we improve children’s engagement with printed materials to support better learning outcomes?
My research shows that the more areas of the brain engaged in processing information, the stronger the memorisation and recall. I explored how to activate as many of these pathways as possible — story for narrative memory, colour for emotional response, sound and action for sensory cues, spatial awareness for orientation, and visual coding for recognition.
In short: designing visuals that teach, entertain, and stay in a child’s memory.
But my journey with children’s design began long before my Master’s.
Over the years, I’ve illustrated several children’s books and created my own comic book about the adventures of a Ukrainian boy in Australia — writing 20 stories and drawing all of the comic illustrations myself.
These projects shaped my understanding of how we see, learn, and connect with visual narratives — a foundation that continues to guide my work today.
Before moving to Australia, I spent five formative years working at Edipresse Ukraine, an international publishing house. I began as a designer and illustrator and later took on the role of chief editor, alongside working as a photographer and illustrator. This period played a significant role in shaping my approach to clarity, storytelling, and creating strong, high-quality visual narratives. Between 2004 and 2009, I worked across a wide range of publications and roles: 2006–2009 — Chief Editor, Photographer, Designer & Illustrator, Fun Ideas (children’s craft magazine) 2006 — Designer & Illustrator, English Teen Club (English-learning magazine for teenagers) 2004–2008 — Illustrator, Horoscope (women’s magazine) 2005 — Designer, Marketing Department
