Designing educational workbooks for Portsmouth University
Dunstar Creative was commissioned by Portsmouth University Business School to design a series of 12 educational workbooks as part of a specialist learning programme developed for the British Army.
The challenge was to create clear, practical and engaging printed resources for geographically dispersed Sergeant Majors, many of whom had limited access to online learning platforms.
Working across a year-long project, Dunstar Creative developed a consistent workbook system focused on usability, clear navigation and effective information design.
Designing for accessibility and usability
With a requirement to support learners working away from traditional classroom environments, the workbooks needed to be highly functional, easy to navigate and visually engaging.
Dunstar Creative created a structured design system across all 12 workbooks, using clear section identification, consistent layouts and visual hierarchy to help users quickly find and absorb information.
Thoughtful print design for learning
Each workbook was carefully designed around the practical needs of the learner.
The solution included:
- Clear section navigation
- Consistent page layouts
- Dedicated note-taking areas
- Stitched-in perforated sections
- Practical print finishes
The final printed resources provided a reliable learning tool that supported independent study.
A complete educational publishing project
Working across a year-long project, Dunstar Creative managed the design and production of a complete workbook series, ensuring consistency across all course materials.
The project demonstrates the importance of combining creative design with clear information structure to produce effective printed resources.
