Kendra Smith

“How can a brand project help support and raise awareness about primary school children with autism?”.

Blu aims to help educate children who have Autism as well as their families and friends who may need to understand this disorder more. The Artefact consists of an illustrative picture book alongside merchandise. Stickers, Badges, and a Bag hopes to bring more knowledge and educational help to children who have been recently diagnosed and are struggling to understand this processing disorder. Arguably, there seem to be limited educational resources or picture books specifically aimed at Autistic children and this is something I want to create to help create awareness of the issue.

The story follows a character called Blu and his backpack. Blu has autism as stores everything in his backpack that helps him to go about his daily successes and struggles with Autism. I created Blu as someone young children could relate and identify with and feel as though they are not alone or different. This picture book and merchandise would be distributed at clinics, pediatrician offices, libraries, schools so parents, families, and children can gain a deeper understanding of Autism and how they may cope with it. The book contains 14 pages of illustrations and information told through a playful perspective, steering away from a clinical approach.