Press Release
Bealuz Villavicencio Receives the A' Design Award for Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book in Print and Published Media Design
Bealuz Villavicencio recognized for print and published media design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 17, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the A' Design Award in the Print and Published Media Design category for Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book by Bealuz Villavicencio. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the A' Design Award
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book
Nella Pancia Della Balena is a silent book that explores marine pollution through the story of a whale affected by waste in the ocean. The narrative highlights themes of friendship, teamwork, and care for the environment, presenting young readers with an accessible entry point to reflect on ecological responsibility. Created digitally with Procreate, the work combines humor with meaningful storytelling to encourage awareness of marine conservation.
About Bealuz Villavicencio
Bealuz Villavicencio (bigC) is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Seoul, South Korea. She is a visual storyteller who creates narratives through imagery, exploring how stories can be communicated beyond words. Growing up between Manila and Seoul shaped her perspective. One nurtured imagination, while the other instilled structure. This duality allows her to notice stories hidden in everyday life and translate them into visual form.
Award Record
This recognition makes Bealuz Villavicencio a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Print and Published Media Design Award
The A' Print Design Award is an international design competition recognizing good printed and published media by leading designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to print designers, published media designers, graphic designers and typography experts from all countries. Typical entries include brochures, posters, magazines, catalogs, flyers and business cards. The awarded print designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/print
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/175052
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/175052
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!175052
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/371132
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book
- Function
- Silent Book
- Category
- Print and Published Media Design
- Discipline
- Communication Design
- Industry
- Branding & Advertising and Entertainment
- Colors
- Light Sea Green, Dark Slate Gray, Dim Gray, Black and Midnight Blue
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Bealuz Villavicencio
- Country
- Republic of Korea
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #175052
Credits
- Image Credits
- Author and Illustrator Bealuz Villavicencio, Pancia Della Balena, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is a wordless picture book that addresses marine pollution through the story of a whale burdened by human waste. Designed for children, it distinguishes itself by combining humor with ecological awareness, making complex environmental issues accessible. Its silent narrative transcends language barriers, fostering empathy, teamwork, and responsibility through vivid illustration
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for this project arises from a profound appreciation for whales and an increasing awareness of the threats posed by ocean pollution. The design was motivated by the intention to communicate environmental concerns to children in a manner that is gentle yet impactful. By employing silent storytelling, the book transcends language barriers and invites readers into an imaginative journey that combines empathy, curiosity, and ecological awareness through visual design.
- Research
- The research was qualitative, aiming to show how a silent book could raise awareness of marine pollution. Using sketching, storyboarding, and digital illustration, and guided by feedback from children and educators, the project showed that images alone foster empathy, imagination, and dialogue on ecology.
- Challenge
- The hardest part was shaping a complex theme like marine pollution into a silent narrative that children could understand without words. Balancing humor with seriousness required many revisions to avoid either oversimplification or excessive heaviness. Zero text meant every visual detail carried weight, demanding careful research and iteration. Technical constraints of digital tools and the need for clarity across cultures added further challenges, all resolved through refinement and feedback.
- Realization and Technology
- Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book was created digitally using iPad and Procreate, combining hand-drawn illustration techniques with digital layering and coloring. The design process involved iterative sketching, composition studies, and refined line work to balance narrative clarity with expressive detail. Color palettes and textures were carefully developed to enhance mood and storytelling while maintaining visual consistency across all 32 pages.
- Operation and Interaction
- Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is experienced through page turning, where each silent illustration guides the reader forward without words. Children follow the journey visually, interpreting the story through images and discovering new details with each reading. The absence of text invites imagination, allowing readers to create their own dialogue and deepen their connection to the narrative.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in December 2023 in Seoul, South Korea, and was completed in February 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. It was exhibited at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025, the Salone del Libro 2025, and the Canton Book Fair 2025.
- Specifications
- Nella Pancia Della Balena Silent Book is a 32-page wordless picture book in a square format measuring 285 mm x 285 mm when closed and 570 mm x 285 mm when open. The book is printed in high resolution at 300 dpi using CMYK color process to ensure vivid illustrations and consistent quality.
- Keywords
- Silent book, Wordless picture book, Marine conservation, Children’s illustration, Ocean pollution
