My Journey from an Undecided Student to an Illustrator for Career Guidance in Ticino

Dear me from 20 years ago...

You are 16 years old, compulsory schooling is about to end, and you have no idea what you want to do "when you grow up." You like drawing, but let's be honest: who really manages to turn art into a real job? And then, going to study at CSIA (Centro Scolastico per le Industrie Artistiche) in Lugano is quite scary: it's far from home, in a "big city"... you're not ready for that. So, you decide to go to Mendrisio High School and study physics and mathematics.

At the end of July 2024, I receive a message through my website: it's Alessandra, who works at the Ufficio dell’orientamento scolastico e professionale (UOSP= Career Guidance Office) of Canton Ticino, asking if I would be interested in creating the illustrations for the 2025 edition of the book "Scuola media... e poi?" (= Middle School... and Then?)

I think I must be dreaming or hallucinating.

I let a few hours pass and go back to read the message: it's real, she really wrote to me. She really reached out to me! And of course, I am absolutely thrilled and excited!

Illustrations for the publication: what is the project about

The book "Scuola media... e poi?" is an annual publication by the Career Guidance Office, gathering all the options available to boys and girls in Canton Ticino after compulsory schooling.

I was asked to create illustrations both for the cover and for the start of each chapter. Eight illustrations in total, meant to decorate and brighten up the publication.

I cosini, the characters I draw, have the unique feature of being neutral: neither male nor female, no ethnicity or religion. This was one of the characteristics that appealed to the client from the very beginning.

"Your passion for drawing will not fade at all during your years at high school, where you will, however, refine that logical mind that people will appreciate about you, by studying physics and mathematics...

You will then decide to change your field of study and attend the preparatory year at CSIA. Changing direction is scary too, but it's what feels right: after three years of hard work, you will earn a Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication at SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland), allowing you to reconnect with graphic design."

The first thing I did was analyze the publication and try to understand the topic of each chapter: it may seem obvious, but in such a complex book, it really isn’t! The educational offerings in Ticino are incredibly diverse.

I created digital sketches on iPad, directly on the photos from the previous year's edition to get a more realistic sense of how they would look in context. Fortunately, the client did not request any changes. Only the cover needed a second version, to find something strong and appealing enough.

1 - Cover. I thought of representing a path, which can be non-linear like mine, as if it were a walk with path signs. There are those who know the way to go, and those who are more undecided.

2 - My reflections. To understand the road you want to take, you have to do some introspection. Ask yourself questions, looking in the mirror, and get answers from the strong and decisive part in us.

3 - Basic vocational training. To represent the wide variety of apprenticeships available, I designed a scene where different cosines collaborate to create a construction.

4 - General education schools. I represented the study as creating a distillation of knowledge, a concentrate of all the concepts one learns by studying from books.

5 - Maturities. After thinking of the classic “piece of paper,” I preferred to represent maturity as a set of keys that opens several doors, behind which is the continuation of the educational journey.

6 - Non-college tertiary degree. Reading the descriptions, I admit I thought, “This is technical and technological and advanced stuff for me!” So I translated them as “rockedscience,” showing little things working on a rocket.

7 - Tertiary university degree. In education, the choice of university is important but distant. It is something you dream about, something you admire from afar, just like a starry sky.

8 - Other useful information. This chapter is more general, talking about many things; I decided to represent language stays with little things that are spoken in different languages.

Afterwards, I transferred the sketches onto watercolor paper, and it was time for the colors. I tried to create balance by using the existing colors in the publication, for example, in the chapter labels. At the same time, I tried to add an accent color to keep the illustrations from looking monotonous.

After refining each illustration with a black fineliner, highlighting the outlines, I moved on to scanning and post-production of the images. This step is crucial and delicate to achieve a good result when printing.

The illustrations in detail

1. My reflections

This year, this first “introspective” chapter has been introduced: my reflections. It aims to guide girls and boys through a bit of self-analysis, helping them understand what they love to do, and thus making it easier for them to decide the best path to follow.

I immediately thought of “looking in the mirror,” but not just to see ourselves, an end in itself: looking in the mirror asking ourselves questions. Providing the answers will be the reflection, that part of ourselves that speaks truthfully and honestly inside us. Of course, I have a character who represents just that: the ninja, the strong and determined part in us. And that's why I wanted to remember the silhouette of the ninja, inside the mirror. 

2. Basic vocational training

I was positively impressed by the quantity and variety of apprenticeships available in Ticino. Representing all this complexity, however, is not at all easy! How to do it? I started reading and imagining those professions... 

I decided to represent a couple of professions, who would be spokespersons for those I could not represent. I thought of little things engaged in practical activities, collaborating, building, holding up a structure that otherwise would have collapsed.  

3. General culture schools

With a great simplification, I thought that these kinds of schools are the ones that give you the basics, the fundamental and essential notions that will then be used in the future. I visually translated this concept with essence extraction, a kind of distillation of knowledge, which the little things extract from books. 

4. Maturities

What is a maturity? It's a piece of paper -- but if I have to find a symbol, I would say it's a key. In fact, a set of keys that allows you to open different doors. After obtaining a baccalaureate, you will be faced with a new decision to make: which door do you want to open, to continue your education? 

5. Non-university tertiary level 

For this chapter I have to make a confession--I don't know if I've been able to understand what these vocational addresses are about. In my head they are something complex, technological, advanced ... I translated it as “rocketscience,” so I illustrated it that way.

6. University tertiary level

University choice is far on the horizon for girls and boys aged 14 or 16 who are beginning their journey after compulsory schools . So far away that, like the stars, one looks at it through a telescope. Or it is something you dream about, on a warm and pleasant summer night.  

7. Other useful information

The last chapter of the book is generic, containing various useful information as a corollary to the previous ones. Among them, I decided to represent language sojourns by simply showing little things that are spoken in different languages. Again, I tried to echo the colors of the little label on the side. 

8. The cover of “Scuola media... e poi?"

This illustration is obviously more important than all the others: for one thing, it is larger because it takes up both the cover, the spine of the book, and the back cover. It also has to be eye-catching, strong, attention-grabbing, and at the same time explain the topic of the book. And as an added complexity it must be able to live with the various title lettering and institutional logos.

I thought about my experience in the world of post-compulsory education and realized that my path was neither linear nor straightforward. It was more like a walk, with some detours along the way. Maybe I took the longer route, but I reached my destination (and let's be honest... I'm still moving forward because you never really stop learning and improving!).

So, I decided to represent i cosini as they embark on their own journey: some doubtful about which path to take, others very determined and confident. Some are further ahead, already standing on a peak, while others are carrying their knowledge from one place to another.

The editorial project: a dream come true

"It won’t be easy to find the right balance... but with commitment and a good analysis of yourself, you'll reach a solid 80%-20% balance."

After graduating, you’ll immediately find an internship that will turn into a permanent position at a branding, communication, and marketing agency called Ander Group. During your years of work, your analytical and logical skills combined with a graphic eye will be the most appreciated qualities. Your passion for illustration will continue with great dedication in the remaining 20% of your time, which means Fridays when you won’t be at the office.

I never would have thought I’d have the chance to work on a project of this scale.
I consider it a "big project" not only because it was commissioned by a public institution but also because of the print run and its distribution: it is handed out to all third-year middle school students, as well as to everyone who is facing the difficult choice of their future path. Knowing that my illustrations will accompany them in such important moments of their lives fills me with pride.

And I am also proud of the fact that this side activity of mine, which I pursue one day a week in addition to my main profession as a UX Architect, which I do 80% of the time, is bringing me more and more satisfaction. It's proof that hard work really does pay off and leads to the results you've worked so hard for.

"Dream! Dream big!"

So, dear me from 20 years ago: dream big! Because non-linear paths may be longer and more challenging, but in the end, they lead you exactly where you’re meant to be! The rewards will come, and it will be amazing!