Providing learners a better visual learning experience.
Project Type Freelance
Industry Small Business Owner
Client Estefani Arevalo
Scope of Work Illustration, Educational Material Design, Print Design
Duration May - August 2026
Tools Adobe Illustrator, Procreate
Project Brief
Create an engaging and accessible map learning experience for Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners by combining American Sign Language, English written, illustration, and educational design. The project includes a poster, worksheets, and workbook designed to make learning about the North America map more visual and engaging.
Project Overview
Signing Across America is an illustrated educational project that introduces map through American Sign Language with English and visual storytelling. The project includes a poster, worksheets, and workbook that bring the state, state capitals, and other elements of the North America to life through an accessible visual approach. It is the first kind of map visual that represents the U.S. states, state capitals, and North America geography in native language.
Problem
Most open-sources USA and World maps limit visual language access for new Deaf learners in both educational and professional settings. Deaf learners (students and homeschoolers) are often left out of educational resources, leaving them without access to visual learning materials in their native language, American Sign Language (ASL). Visual language map is an important learning resource for Deaf learners, especially, for Kindergarten and first-grade learners who are beginning to learn about the United States and how to read and understand geography and map. They begin to approach by learning a new vocabulary in sign language.
Why is this problem important?
Not all Deaf learners understand or are able to access resources in their own language for their learning skills.
Solution
By incorporating the visual assets on the map as a visual learning tool, I began designed tons of assets that brings together American Sign Language (ASL) and English to make geography more accessible and engaging.
Outcome
Visual map provides ASL-inclusive educational materials creates language access for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing (HoH), and KODA (Kids of Deaf Adults) learners. It supports Deaf learners' learning needs by accelerating comprehension, receptive, and strengthening essential skills, including fingerspelling, letter recognition, and writing proficiency.
Concept Development
There are more than 50 illustrated elements in ASL where each State indicated their own sign for each state and their capitals all over the U.S, including U.S. oceans, and one of its territories.
The State version features the primary character representing each state, with a smiling face and the character signing the state name in American Sign Language (ASL). In contrast, the State Capital is represented as a secondary element using only the ASL handshape in the following each state.
Visual Assets — U.S. States in ASL
Visual Assets — U.S. State Capitals in ASL
The visual map also included Canada and Mexico countries, U.S oceans, U.S time zones and one of its territories, Puerto Rico, and map compass in ASL.
The 50 States Study Unit in ASL Workbook
My client developed the workbook that also incorporating visual assets. I designed the visual assets themselves, including an illustration of a figure (person) using American Sign Language (ASL) to represent the term "state natural heritage."
