Nany Chen  


Hi!

I am a design researcher and graphic designer fostering social progress through cross-disciplinary action, translating abstract ideas into visual clarity and a mental health advocate.
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Restless Room

Pop-up Book Design

How might we initiate conversations using 3D pop-up zines with children about their feelings and fears?












The goal of this project is: Enable children to express their feelings through reading and playing, build conversations about fears and emotions with parents and service providers, and help them notice and address children's mental state earlier to reduce trauma risk.

Scroll down to read more...








CATA

Why me?
Research #1 - Surveys
Research #2 - interview with experts
Ideation + Concept Testing
Usability Testing
Zine Design
Event Participation


Why me?


   
                                                              When I was little, my bedroom door couldn’t close because of a broken lock.
Night after night, I had the same nightmare: a door left ajar, where monsters could always find me.            

I didn’t know how to tell my parents about my fear.
Research #1 - Surveys
By curious about whether others shared my experience, I conducted an online survey about space fear in 2020, which received 214 usable responses.


"This survey helped me start to think about something I never thought about, which helped me to know myself deeply."
—— survey participant A

Interestingly, the majority of the responses mentioned childhood rooms and childhood experiences.  





What is it about childhood spaces that makes them so vividly connected to these restless rooms and unrest feelings?

Research #2 - Interview with experts



To better understand the underlying reasons, I engaged in a conversation with a psychologist friend about how certain emotions persist and why children often struggle to identify and express their feelings. This discussion led me to two key insights:
1. The environment in which a child grows up can significantly influence their mental health.

2. Initiating conversations about emotions early in a child's life can be highly beneficial.
 

(Children are highly sensitive to their emotions, but the bridge that enables them to identify and verbalize these feelings is still under construction during childhood. As a result, they often struggle to articulate how they feel, leading to emotional suppression, disrupted development of emotional awareness, and the persistence of unexpressed feelings long-term.)

“ Adolescents who have a better understanding of emotions tend to have higher levels of academic achievement and well-being. However, those who struggle to identify their emotions often report experiencing more negative affect and show deficits in socio-emotional functioning.”

(Grosse, G., & Streubel, B. (2024). Emotion-specific vocabulary and its relation to emotion understanding in children and adolescents. Cognition and Emotion, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2024.2346745)

Given that childhood rooms deeply shape mental health and early emotional dialogue is critical, what would have helped them express it sooner?


Ideation + Concept Testing


To create an impactful outcome, I consulted a psychologist, who suggested designing a physical, interactive, emotional tool for children to help prevent trauma formation.
Also, during conversations with parents and children, I noticed children's books are portable and easy for both to interact with.
Based on advice, I created several initial prototypes to test with children of different ages and observed their reactions. I also spoke with parents about their preferred materials. I noticed their enthusiasm for interactive toys and children's books, which inspired me to explore 3D pop-up books.
Design process - from draft to final


Usability Testing



After completing secondary research and prototyping the book with three groups of children and parents, I transitioned to designing a 3D pop‑up zine. The zine’s portability and interactive format proved more engaging for children, making it easier for them to choose and explore.
After finalizing the design, I collaborated with clinics, Ally Counseling and Therapy, and individual therapists. I also created a feedback form for therapists to collect their opinions, enabling me to continue editing the zines and also refine the using process.

   


I have also created social media channels that regularly share updates and showcase different kinds of "restless rooms" to build awareness and share the project: IG - @restlessroom_pj

Zine Design



Outcomes

  • This project helped foster conversations about fear and emotions between parents and their children.

  • The zine is currently being used in one clinic and one individual therapist as a mental health conversation tool during their sessions.


Event Participation