primary research / booklet

As the audience is 3-5 year olds, the method of gathering information needs to be simple and effective. I decided on creating a booklet for the children to fill out that includes an easy to read typeface and simple vocabulary. This also means the children can fill out the booklet without me being there, so they won't be daunted by an unfamiliar presence and can be assisted by teachers if needed. The questions will help determine what aspects of graphic design are most effective for each gender.

The cover page just includes the simple information that is needed for the questionnaire.

The first question asks the children what their favourite colour is. This information is important as children like more than just pink or blue. It will be interesting to see if there is any correlation between whether children who choose pink in the next question, for example, have a similar favourite colour.

I would like to know why children would choose pink over blue, or blue over pink. As they are very young they may only give very simple answers, though these are usually truthful ones.

The next question gives the children a choice of typefaces. I have chosen 2 stereotypically 'girly', neutral and 'boyish' typefaces for them to choose from. Again, it will be interesting to see whether there is a correlation between their gender and the typeface they have chosen.

On the opposite page the children are asked to circle words that describe their chosen typeface. I would like to find out whether they are associating their chosen typeface with existing gender stereotypes. Words like 'pretty', 'girly', 'strong' and 'boyish' have been included specifically to understand this.

This question is to determine whether the children can relate to their own gender, and whether they prefer being presented as a 'real life' human or in an illustrated way.

The final page shows children a selection of magazine covers. This will determine what layout and presentation is most successful with children. There are two more neutral magazines, dot and okido, and then covers that would more likely appeal to girls, storytime, and boys, kick.