Trace & Count: Board Book Cover Design

This project began as an assignment for the Make Art That Sells (MATS) Bootcamp, led by Zoe Tucker and Lilla Rogers.

The brief was simple: design one spread from a board book text provided by Zoe.

However, I saw an opportunity to push myself further. To fully practice my world-building and character consistency, I decided to illustrate all ten characters mentioned in the text, eventually developing a complete 10-page book.

Finding the "Hook": Interactive Design

I wanted this book to be more than just a reading experience; I wanted it to be a tool for tactile learning. Inspired by the interactive books Zoe shared in class (specifically those by Ingela P. Arrhenius), I integrated a physical sliding disc mechanism on every page. This allows children to physically trace the shape of each number, building muscle memory while they count. 

I made sure to feature this USP (Unique Selling Proposition) prominently on the front cover so the interactive nature is clear from the very first glance.

The Research & Strategy: Understanding Board Book Covers

Once the interior was complete, I shifted focus to the cover, which turned out to be a whole learning process in itself.

I went back to Zoe’s lectures and assignment PDFs and started collecting real-world references. I explored platforms like Amazon and gathered multiple board book covers, including fronts, backs, and spines. I documented these in Google Slides and analyzed them the same way Zoe demonstrated in class, breaking them down using annotations and visual markers.

This exercise helped me understand that a board book cover isn’t just about aesthetics—it's a system with clear roles:

• Front Cover → Grabs attention and gives a quick, exciting preview of what’s inside

• Back Cover → Reinforces the value by summarising features and supporting the buying decision

• Spine → The most consistently visible part of the book; it needs to communicate the core idea instantly. The spine, in particular, felt like a hidden hero to me—often overlooked, but critical in a retail environment. Since books spend most of their lives on a shelf, the spine must communicate the core purpose of the product at a glance.

From Thumbnails to Final Design

With this understanding, I moved into thumbnail sketching.

I explored multiple layout ideas on paper, paying special attention to the spine by working at actual scale to understand spatial constraints. From seven initial thumbnails, I selected two promising directions and refined them digitally using Procreate, followed by further development in Affinity Designer.

The final cover layout emerged as a combination of these directions.

I created multiple variations (around six) to test different compositions and visual hierarchies. One key decision was to incorporate the sliding disc feature directly into the cover design, ensuring that the book’s interactive element is immediately visible and understandable to the viewer.

To evaluate the designs, I reviewed them from multiple perspectives—considering how they might be perceived by art directors, publishers, parents, and children. I also used iterative feedback and comparison (A/B testing) to identify strengths and refine the final outcome.

I used AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini as a way to simulate stakeholder feedback and A/B testing. This helped me identify strengths, gaps, and blind spots in my design decisions.

Color Exploration & A/B Testing

A major part of my process was testing different color stories to understand their emotional and market positioning.

• The Teal Palette- I chose a high-energy teal for the main version of the cover. It creates a strong, modern contrast against the warm pink and orange characters, making it visually striking and “kid-magnetic” in a crowded marketplace.

• The Cream Palette- In contrast, I explored a softer cream-based version aimed at a more boutique, premium feel, something that could work well as a giftable product.

Integrating the Interactive Feature into the Cover

One key decision was to bring the sliding disc interaction onto the cover itself.

This ensures that the book’s most distinctive feature is immediately visible, even before it is opened, helping it stand out both on shelves and in online listings.

I made the sliding disc yellow. By choosing a bright, contrasting yellow with a small red arrow, I ensured the interactive tracing element was intuitive. It’s not just a decoration; it’s a clear invitation for a child to reach out and play.

Designing the Spine & Back Cover

For the spine, I focused on clarity above all else.

Making “Trace & Count 1 to 10” clearly readable was essential, since that is the core function of the book.

For the back cover, I included:

• a short blurb explaining the interactive feature

• supporting character visuals to extend engagement

• space for practical elements like barcode and pricing

The intention was to encourage the customer to pause, explore, and feel confident in their purchase decision.

Tactile Visual Language

Even though the artwork is digital, I wanted it to feel physical and touchable.

To achieve this, I used sketchy textured vector brushes for elements like speech bubbles, shapes, and scanned textures as backgrounds. This adds a subtle imperfection and warmth, aligning with the tactile nature of board books.

Reflection

This project became much more than an illustration exercise.

It helped me understand the thinking behind board book design as a product — how storytelling, interaction, marketing, and physical constraints all come together.

It also pushed me to work more intentionally, test my assumptions, and design with both the child and the buyer in mind.