The First Marketplace: Africa’s Role in Shaping World Trade repositions Africa at the heart of global commerce, revealing its foundational role in shaping economic systems, trade networks, and cultural exchange long before European colonial expansion. Designed as a textbook for middle school students and older, this engaging resource explores Africa’s vast marketplaces, maritime trade routes, and economic innovations that connected the continent to the ancient world—from the gold-rich empires of West Africa to the bustling Swahili coast and beyond.
The client was struggling to make their 160+ page school curriculum book, The First Marketplace, engaging for young readers. The original layout was too plain and text-heavy, failing to hold students’ attention — especially in a digital age where visual engagement is everything. They needed a solution that would make learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure, without compromising educational value.
THE PROBLEM
THE SOLUTION
I stepped in to completely redesign the interior with a playful, colorful, and dynamic layout system. I introduced vibrant illustrations, custom icons, and section dividers that made content easier to digest. Each chapter had its own unique theme and color palette to help with visual memory. For the print version, I ensured readability and flow with careful typography and white space balance. For the digital version, I optimized it for screens, adding interactive elements where needed. The final result? A book that students actually wanted to flip through — boosting engagement and learning retention.
PHOTOS
