Turning photography education into pocket adventures.
Client : Chennai Photo Biennale - Prism
Developed by CPB Prism and fully designed at Studio Atom, Pockets of Photography is a compact activity kit created to introduce photography through playful, theme-based exploration. Though built for all ages, the kit was especially designed to be kid-friendly, hands-on, and visually inviting.
The entire project — from concept to layout, illustration, packaging, and print — was executed end-to-end, with a focus on learning, accessibility, and delight. A set of 30 mini-zines and add-ons were created to inspire users to pick up a camera and start seeing the world differently.
The idea was to create small, independent “pockets” of photography prompts — self-contained guides that users could dip into at any time. Each zine focused on a unique photography theme, and included:
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Simple instructions
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Visual references through curated photos
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Illustration aids to spark imagination and guide action
To keep the experience approachable for children and beginners, a recurring mascot was added — one that’s always camera shy, often seen only through hands, feet, or shadows. This playful character helped the zines feel warm, relatable, and subtly narrative-driven.
Mini-zine format
Each activity was designed as an individual, foldable zine — compact, collectible, and perfect for on-the-go learning.
Age-inclusive visual tone
A camera-shy mascot to connect with photographers and highlight the subject at hand. The mascot embodies observation and capturing the world around them. The Silhouette-based illustrations were accompanied with comforting visual elements to evoke the spirit of fun workshops, learning spaces, and games.
Intuitive Layouts
Content was placed front and center, supported by inspiring photographic examples and contextual illustrations that added clarity and instruction, Call to Action prompts to promote community learning.
Stickers & Play Elements
Fun sticker sheets were developed to enhance interactivity, tactile engagement, extend brand reach, and make the experience feel personal and collectible.
The outcome & Learnings
A complete kit of 30 activity zines, stickers, and a guide leaflet was created, packaged to feel tactile and collectible. The kit was launched through the Chennai Photo Biennale shop and used in classrooms and creative programs, helping CPB reach younger audiences through playful, self-led learning.
This project was a deep dive into interactive print design — blending structure, storytelling, and exploration. It showed how physical formats can engage users much like digital ones — through clarity, modularity, and thoughtful pacing.
