How to Get Lost in the Wild
How-to guides typically break down processes into clear, step-by-step instructions to help people learn. For this class assignment, we created an illustrated step-by-step guide to explore processes and learn more about Adobe Illustrator. The task involved researching a process to illustrate, then presenting it as a cohesive, easy-to-follow visual guide. The goal was to ensure the guide was both educational and clear for readers. I had about a month to complete this while balancing other design projects and coursework.
After watching Into the Wild , I was inspired by Christopher McCandless’s journey and studied movie reviews to better understand his steps to live off the grid. I used natural, earthy tones with burgundy representing berries to symbolize life’s fleeting nature in the wilderness. The Volkswagen van was hand-drawn with the pen tool, and I simplified the trees to maintain focus on the illustrated steps. The cursive typeface and the tree-like Topic typeface completed the composition, while organic, painted edges created a sense of expansion beyond the poster’s borders. Based on feedback, I adjusted the kerning in the title How to Get Lost, removed a quote from the van, and refined the illustrated steps for a more balanced layout.
The final piece is a clear, organized series of steps illustrating how simple it can be to take time for yourself after spending a significant portion of your life in school. The circular layout guides the viewer through the steps in a smooth, intuitive way. This project taught me valuable lessons about research and the ability to distill information into a concise, impactful format.