“Once Upon Another Time” (C’era Un’Altra Volta – CUAV) is a set of guidelines for creating interactive, multidimensional books that explore complex contemporary issues through multiple perspectives. Drawing from classic fairy tales and narrative archetypes, the project reinterprets familiar stories into hands-on experiences that encourage reflection and learning by doing.

Developed as a Master’s thesis in Systemic Design for Communication in collaboration with two colleagues, the project continued after graduation as CUAV Collective, participating in design fairs, talks, and competitions. It was later featured in the Oggetto Libro exhibition at the ADI Design Museum and included in the 2023 AIAP AWDA - Women in Design Award catalogue.

The manual consists of five modular, magnetic books structured around a flexible process, from introduction to creation, allowing different entry points depending on the project. At its core is a toolkit designed to transform fairy tales into interactive experiences through reinterpretation and distortion.

The toolkit includes 36 interaction cards, 20 storytelling cards, and 4 transparent cards for translating analogue interactions into digital formats such as web or AR.