Design Tips: Sticker Books for Illustrators
Teacher: Carrie Knights, Collaborate Agency’s Design Manager

Sticker activity books are fun and engaging for children. They help with the development of fine motor skills, imagination, and learning abilities. Here are some helpful tips for your sticker activity book project from Collaborate Agency’s Design Manager, Carrie Knights:

The cover of an activity book is the first thing that catches the eye of a child. It should be attractive, colourful, and inviting. It should also reflect the theme and content of the book, giving a hint of what kind of activities are inside. When working with a publisher, a written brief and cover template are usually supplied to the artist or designer. This may already include placement of the title, logo, call-outs, and strapline. Consider these components when illustrating cover art. Avoid clashing or overlapping these areas and remember to allow breathing room so the design doesn’t appear cramped. If you have creative freedom with cover call-outs or straplines, try to incorporate them into your cover art in a fun and playful way (see the ‘Call-outs’ examples).

If the cover features a die-cut window showing the stickers inside, be careful of the window shape in your design. Die-cuts should not be overly complex. Avoid sharp points or protruding areas that could potentially snag or rip when handled (see the ‘Die-cut Windows’ examples).

When creating stickers, check the margins and printer requirements with the publisher (they may vary). As a general rule, leave a larger margin from the gutter (spine edge) than the trim edges to prevent stickers from lifting or being damaged at the binding (see the ‘Gutter / Margins’ examples). Space the stickers according to the printer’s die-cut tolerances. This is usually 3mm between stickers with the same colour bleed, and 6mm between stickers with different colour bleeds on the same sheet (see the ‘Die-lines’ and ‘Bleed’ examples). Think about the sticker shape. Are there any long or thin areas that could easily rip when peeled from the backing sheet? Consider designs that would make a stronger sticker shape or link delicate areas together when creating the die-lines to add extra support.

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