Eric Smoldt
Objective: The goal of creating digital illustrations for The Freak Factor for Kids book was to visually bring to life the book’s concepts and engage young readers with images that reinforced the theme of embracing individual strengths and differences.
Context: The Freak Factor for Kids is a children’s book that encourages kids to appreciate what makes them unique and turn perceived “weaknesses” into strengths. The illustrations needed to be vibrant, relatable, and expressive to resonate with children and reinforce the book’s positive, empowering message.
Challenges: A key challenge was crafting illustrations that balanced fun and accessibility while also conveying deeper messages of self-acceptance and growth. Additionally, each illustration had to appeal to children of various ages and backgrounds, ensuring that the characters were diverse and relatable to a broad audience.
Process: I began by reading the book’s manuscript thoroughly to capture the essence of each story and character. From there, I sketched initial concepts, focusing on expressive characters and dynamic scenes that would appeal to young readers.
Learnings: This project taught me the importance of empathy in design—creating illustrations that speak to children on both a visual and emotional level. I also gained valuable experience in balancing creativity with storytelling, ensuring that each illustration supported the narrative while enhancing engagement.