Mandinka Language Workbook Design - Pilot Program
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
Two student workbooks for a Mandinka language program for Senior Secondary schools in The Gambia — pilot program. Both books share the same interior layout. Content is fully written and provided. Layout only — no writing, no editing.
This is the first of more books in the same series. A designer who does good work here will have ongoing work.
Why These Books Matter
These are the first workbooks that teach Mandinka students how to spell, read, and write their own language. Students have spoken Mandinka their entire lives but have never had a formal system for writing it. These books give them that for the first time. The workbooks need to feel like something worth keeping — something a student is proud to own and will hold onto long after the program ends.
The Interior
The interior has two modes throughout both books:
Textbook sections — reading content, explanations, tables, reference material. Clean and readable like a quality school textbook.
Student work sections — areas for notes, fill-in exercises, and written responses. Enough space for handwriting. Not cramped.
Some images are provided. The designer may suggest additional images where appropriate. The content is rooted in Mandinka culture — image suggestions should reflect that.
The Cover
The cover is the most important design decision. It must:
Reflect Mandinka culture — not generic Africa, not clip art, not stock photography of unrelated subjects
Look impressive and professional
Feel like something a student wants to keep for years
Work in full color
We welcome the designer's creative vision for the cover. Show us what you see.
Specifications
Page size: A4
Interior: Black and white
Cover: Full color
Binding: Saddle stitch (staple bound)
Interior paper: 80gsm
Cover: Card stock
One Technical Requirement
The books contain Mandinka text with special characters. Your font must support: ŋ, ñ, ´ and `
Free fonts that support these: Noto Sans, Noto Serif. Test before you begin.
Deliverables
Print-ready A4 PDF — interior and cover for both books
All raw source files for future edits
Software
InDesign or Affinity Publisher. No Word, no Canva.
This is the first of more books in the same series. A designer who does good work here will have ongoing work.
Why These Books Matter
These are the first workbooks that teach Mandinka students how to spell, read, and write their own language. Students have spoken Mandinka their entire lives but have never had a formal system for writing it. These books give them that for the first time. The workbooks need to feel like something worth keeping — something a student is proud to own and will hold onto long after the program ends.
The Interior
The interior has two modes throughout both books:
Textbook sections — reading content, explanations, tables, reference material. Clean and readable like a quality school textbook.
Student work sections — areas for notes, fill-in exercises, and written responses. Enough space for handwriting. Not cramped.
Some images are provided. The designer may suggest additional images where appropriate. The content is rooted in Mandinka culture — image suggestions should reflect that.
The Cover
The cover is the most important design decision. It must:
Reflect Mandinka culture — not generic Africa, not clip art, not stock photography of unrelated subjects
Look impressive and professional
Feel like something a student wants to keep for years
Work in full color
We welcome the designer's creative vision for the cover. Show us what you see.
Specifications
Page size: A4
Interior: Black and white
Cover: Full color
Binding: Saddle stitch (staple bound)
Interior paper: 80gsm
Cover: Card stock
One Technical Requirement
The books contain Mandinka text with special characters. Your font must support: ŋ, ñ, ´ and `
Free fonts that support these: Noto Sans, Noto Serif. Test before you begin.
Deliverables
Print-ready A4 PDF — interior and cover for both books
All raw source files for future edits
Software
InDesign or Affinity Publisher. No Word, no Canva.
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