Lillian Huo

Bringing liveliness to Nuffield Street “InBetween” is a comic bookstore dedicated for youth, ranging from school children to young adults, encouraging young people to develop an interest in reading through an exciting retail experience.

Designed as a life-sized comic strip, the shopfront allows customers to become a part of a comic scene, to ‘act’ and create their own stories. The imagery within the comic panels replicates a scene of a forest, derived from the manga series The Girl from the Other Side. After customers encounter this dark forest they move through a series of layers until they reach the safe cottage. Inspired by paper dioramas, each window is a comic panel with a depth of view, where people can perform and walk between the layers. The interior of the store follows the curve of the exterior, as two walls of bookshelves divided in sections create a labyrinth emulating a tall dense forest.

“InBetween” is a safe community space for young people that welcomes them to explore books and socialise, supporting their journey as they grow and discover their identities.