Like a Girl
Editorial Illustrations
The Client
Like a Girl, by Aparna Jain is a collection of stories about 50 iconic Indian women who have contributed to the rich history, culture, economics and politics of our country. Directed towards young adults, these stories introduces them to the lives, struggles and triumphs of these remarkable women.
The Brief
WR was commissioned to illustrate two stories from the book - for math prodigy Shakuntala Devi, and the beloved musical sisters - Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. A free-hand was given to explore whichever styles would best suit the tone of the stories.
The Thinking
The Visual Approach
The style wove together hand-painted elements and digital graphics, creating a tactile, layered illustration.
For Shakuntala Devi, numbers and formulae danced around her portrait. The two sisters were placed amidst a background of vines and notations—a "swar mala" (garland of notes). Lata Mangeshkar was surrounded by traditional Indian instruments, while Asha Bhosle was encircled by global instruments, reflecting the styles of music they lent their voices too, and the breadth of their musical contributions.
Icons
Spreads from the Student's workbook
