Work Hard, Play Hard: Prompts for fun in Graphic Design
Master’s Thesis | Design Education Writing | Publication Design | Playing Card Design
What it is:
This publication was developed as a creative resource for graphic design educators and students who want to loosen up, take risks, and rediscover the fun in making. It investigates the value of play in the design process, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking, and a release from the pressure of perfection.
What’s inside:
Workbook
A hands-on companion filled with prompts, each accompanied by a clear objective, space to explore directly on the page, and a pocket of curated materials to get started.
Example Book
A visual reference featuring completed versions of each prompt. It serves as both inspiration and proof that there’s no “right” way to create.
Prompt Deck
A set of playing cards that distills the Work Book into bite-sized prompts. Shuffle and draw to start—no linear order required.
The books:
The cards:
The process:
Acknowledgments
The prompts included in this publication were inspired by books I read in design school, collected from assignments professors wrote for my classes, or written by myself.
Books Referenced
- Creative Block: Over 100 Tasks to Get Your Head Into a Creative Space – Gemma Lawrence
- You are an Artist: Assignments to Spark Creation – Sarah Urist Green
- Graphic Design Playbook: An Exploration of Visual Thinking – Sophie Cure and Aurélien Farina
- Taking a Line for a Walk: Assignments in Design Education – Nina Paim, Emilia Bergmark, and Corinne Gisel
Professors Referenced
Cheryl-Towler Weese, Sharon Oiga, Pedro Neves, and Pouya Ahmadi