RADICES - an illustrated guide

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Radices

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A kids' guide to the Pisa Botanic Garden & Museum, which is located near the Leaning Tower since 1593.

Radices is my degree thesis project; it is composed of two coordinated elements: the prototype itself (an illustrated square guide, whose pages are reported into this presentation), and a project book.

The idea was born one year ago, after having visited the garden for the first time. I noticed the absence of visual supports for children, so I decided to do something in order to enhance such a peaceful and important place.

The guide provides historical and botanical informations, trivia, puzzles and activities about the eight sections of the garden; each one of them is represented by a chapter, which is linked to a color and a leaf.

The illustrations are inspired by drawings I found inside local Reinassance manuscripts, photos I took into the garden and a collection of leaves I started some years ago.

Four out of the eight leaves I drew are reported on the first two and on the last two pages of the guide; these are printed by slikscreen on textured paper, in order to provide a tactile experience for the younger readers.

The latin word Radices ("roots") takes inspiration from botanical scientific names, but also refers to my passion for plants and to my own roots, since Pisa is my hometown.