When Characters Have Other Ideas You sit down with a lovely, tidy plan. Beginning, middle, and end are all mapped out. Tea in hand. Confidence high. Then your main character promptly ignores you. They say something you did not expect. They refuse to walk into the scene you carefully built. They make a choice that…
The Messy Middle: Why All Great Stories Start with Scribbles
The Magic Hidden in the Mess A brilliant story rarely begins with a masterpiece. More often, it starts with a slightly crumpled notebook page, a wobbly sketch, or a collection of ideas that look like they were written during an enthusiastic brainstorming moment. Arrows everywhere. Notes in the margins. Half-finished thoughts. In other words, scribbles….
The Bedtime Story that Wrote Itself (Almost!)
A Very Sleepy Problem There comes a moment in every parent’s life when they stare at their child, book in hand, and discover that their imagination has quietly slipped out of the house without leaving a note. The bedtime story that once rolled off the tongue now feels as distant as last year’s holiday. Your…
Why not create your own book this summer?
The sun’s out (or it was, at the time of writing!), the school holidays are approaching, and youngsters up and down the country have many long, carefree days ahead of them. So, if you are wondering what to do in the weeks ahead, why not go about creating your own book? Or, if you are…
Flower Power & Paintbrushes: Why Nature is the Best Muse for Art (and Your Soul!)
There’s something magical about picking up a paintbrush and letting your creativity bloom. Whether it’s a cheeky daisy in a doodle or a sweeping watercolour of a meadow, painting nature makes us feel good. It’s fun, it’s freeing, and best of all, it doesn’t require fancy materials or a degree in fine art. Just a…
Book of the Month Review: The Adventure Globe – A Magical Tale of Travel, Teamwork, and Discovery
We’re incredibly excited to spotlight The Adventure Globe as our Book of the Month here at Happydesigner—an uplifting, globetrotting tale that blends magic, geography, and sibling teamwork into one beautifully illustrated children’s book. This story marks the debut children’s book by Sarah Lorimer De Santi, a passionate traveller, mother, and storyteller who drew on her…
If books were heirlooms, which would you hand down?
We’ve recently celebrated World Book Day, the annual awareness event which plays a crucial role in keeping books relevant to children in an increasingly digital world. In an age dominated by screens and instant gratification, the charm of a physical book for children can sometimes seem dimmed. World Book Day acts as a powerful spotlight,…
Book of the Month Review: Buffy & Huffy
At Happydesigner, we believe that the best children’s books do more than just tell stories—they spark imagination, inspire curiosity, and leave a lasting imprint on young hearts. Every month, we handpick a book that embodies these qualities, and this time, we couldn’t be more excited to feature Buffy & Huffy as our Book of the…
Why AI Should Never Replace True Human Creatives
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making waves in almost every industry you can think of, and yes, that includes the world of design and illustration. You might be wondering, “Is AI the future of creativity?” Well, here at Happydesigner, we firmly believe that while AI has its place, it can never truly replace human creativity….
