The Accomplishment Journal
Services Book Cover and Interior Design
Client Sydney Baker via The Self Publishing Agency
Date 2019
Project Overview
The Accomplishment Journal by Sydney Baker was designed as a vital companion for career-minded individuals. Recognized as a 2020 Best Book Awards Finalist in the Novelty & Gift category, this book aims to streamline the process of recording and leveraging work experiences, achievements, and personal growth. The design challenge was to create a layout that was not only functional but also motivating, to encourage regular use and reflection.
The Solution
The journal's design integrates a series of structured prompts and resources to guide users in recording their professional lives. Starting with an initial set of questions focused on career and goal planning, it includes 52 sets of weekly prompts and 13 sets of monthly reflections, culminating in a year-in-review evaluation.
Each section is designed with plenty of lined space for responses, complemented by additional pages for freeform notes and a soft-skills brainstorming page. This structured approach is enhanced by visual cues and example entries to inspire users and help them maintain a consistent journaling habit.
Extended Features
The Accomplishment Journal is packed with supporting resources to aid users in establishing a journaling routine, including tips on creating a habit, example answers for initial prompts, and a dedicated page for brainstorming soft skills. These elements work together to remove the "memory game" from job interview preparations and performance reviews, enabling users to easily access and articulate their accomplishments and learning experiences.
Impact
The design and utility of The Accomplishment Journal have made it an indispensable tool in career development, widely appreciated for its thoughtful organization and the practicality of its features. It has become an essential resource for professionals aiming to capture their achievements and reflect on their career progression systematically. This journal not only serves as a repository of personal successes but also as a catalyst for ongoing professional development and self-discovery.
“I am so glad that I found Laura. Not only did she bring this book concept to the next level (and then the level after that) but she brought an impressive amount of expertise that I would have been totally lost without. Having a designer that specializes in books is sooo important. Luckily for me, Laura also had experience with journal-style books, so it was a match made in heaven.
Reflecting on my experience working with Laura, I must say she is the real deal. Professional, timely, communicative, patient, talented, knowledgeable… the list goes on. When she presented the initial front cover concepts, it didn’t take me long to see that the design most opposite to what I had envisioned was THE one. And I think that says a lot about her skill as a designer and says a lot about her expertise with books/consumer behavior. The same goes for the interior. Laura presented two drafts of interior styling, and it took me two seconds to pick one.
Laura does an incredible job of taking your inspirations, blending them with her knowledge and skill, and then presenting you something a step above what you could have ever imagined. Plus, all the while, she will patiently put up with your spinning-out over tiny details because you’re at the end of your book process and facing a million emotions. And if you don’t yet know what I’m talking about, you will soon ;)
Thank you so much, Laura. From the bottom of my heart. This book would not be what it is today without you and I am forever grateful!”
