Illuminating Visionaries
Behind The Scenes
The Challenge
How do you turn abstract classroom expectations into something meaningful and exciting for kids? The challenge was to develop characters that kids could relate to, remember, and actually enjoy learning from — without feeling like they were being lectured.
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Creative Direction
I brainstormed and sketched several character ideas before finalizing the squad: Kind Kim, Safety Steve, Thoughtful Thea, and Healthy Helen. Each character was designed to reflect one of the core expectations visually and emotionally, with outfits, expressions, and props that reinforced their message.
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Illustration & Design Process
I illustrated each character using Procreate and finalized their appearances in Illustrator. Variations were created — for example, Kind Kim with a heart and Safety Steve with a stop sign — to give each one more visual storytelling power.
Once the squad was complete, I designed individual books for each character using InDesign. These books were created to be read aloud and used as part of interactive lessons.
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Interactive Experience
To make things even more exciting for the kids, I incorporated augmented reality elements. These brought the characters to life and kept the children engaged, laughing, and learning.
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Outcome
The Growing Together Squad quickly became a favorite part of the kids’ routine. Teachers reported more engagement with the expectations, and students loved seeing “their” characters around the center. It was a playful, inclusive, and impactful way to promote a positive learning environment.
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Reflection
This project blended storytelling, illustration, and interaction — and reminded me how powerful visuals can be in shaping behavior and creating joyful connections. Seeing the kids connect with the characters was the best kind of feedback I could ask for.
Growing together Sqaud
Project: Growing Together Character Design
Role: Illustrator, Layout Designer, Story Creator
Medium: Character Illustration, Book Design, Augmented Reality
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To help reinforce center-wide expectations in a fun and engaging way, I created a group of custom characters known as the Growing Together Squad. These characters were developed in collaboration with daycare directors and staff to reflect the values of kindness, safety, health, and thoughtfulness — while also celebrating diversity and joy in learning.
Character Lineup
The full Growing Together Squad side by side — Kind Kim, Safety Steve, Healthy Helen, and Thoughtful Thea — each bringing a core expectation to life.
Additional poses and props, like Healthy Helen holding an apple and Kind Kim with a heart, helped support themed bulletin boards and print materials.
Character Variations
Book Series
Each character got their own book designed with bold illustrations and kid-friendly text — perfect for circle time.
Augmented Reality Integration
To enhance the interactive experience, I used real-life photos taken around the daycare — capturing kids actively learning and playing. I then illustrated the characters directly into these photos. This helped create moments where the kids could see themselves alongside the characters they were learning about, making the experience more immersive, exciting, and relatable
