The Idea

Before starting this project, I used the Ikigai method. I reflected on what I love, what I’m good at, and what the world needs. I realized that I loved helping people, that I was good at leading the way on some issues, and that the world needed more kindness. I also wanted to try something I haven't done before and decided to make the guidebook, but in comic book form and for shy people. (Because I'm shy too, so it's a subject I have more or less control over.) This is how the idea for Shyguide was born.

Research

I started my research by doing a survey and the majority of the survey stated that they were unable to forget embarrassing moments for a long time and joked about them to cope. Thus, I focused on embarrassing moments that can happen to anyone in daily life.

Character

For the character design, I created a shy but lovable character who expresses emotions mostly through their eyes. Their mouth is not always visible, and they wear oversized clothes, making them more relatable. The design was kept minimal and expressive so that readers could see themselves in the character. While creating the stories, I focused on the character’s emotions and internal thoughts.

Scenarios

Once the drawing process started, I carefully crafted each scene to ensure that every chapter conveyed a meaningful message. This comic book is not just about embarrassing moments—it helps readers better undestand themselves and approach situations from a different perspective. The general message of the book is 'situations like this hapen, what matters is the reaction.'

Thus, I created 6 different scenarios and the book was completed with a few extra pages, such as the end section of the character page.

Website

After finishing the book, I realized that readers might need a sense of community. That’s when I decided to create a website where people who read Shyguide could share their experiences and feel less alone.

SHYGUIDE

TEASER