picture book workshop at the University of Applied Science Potsdam
What happens when you combine the curiosity of a scientist with the imagination of an artist? Over the course of one intensive week, a group of young creators (ages 6 to 12) embarked on a journey to answer that question, resulting in the creation of their very own handmade picture books.
Our week began with an immersive visit to the Natural History Museum. From ancient fossils to the blue tongue of a polar bear, the children used the museum's collection as a foundation for their research, sketching, and conceptual development. The workshop provided a comprehensive introduction to the professional world of visual storytelling. Throughout the week, participants navigated the entire production process:
Research & Concept: Transforming museum observations into unique story concepts.
Storytelling: Learning how to pace a narrative and balance images with text.
Creative Exercises: Breaking through "blank page" fear with experimental drawing and writing prompts.
Book binding: An introduction to basic bookbinding techniques, allowing each child to physically produce their work from scratch.
By the end of the week, every participant had moved through the full cycle of a multidisciplinary artist, leaving with a finished, self-authored book and new experiences.
Participants: Ages 6–12
Developed in partnership with Christina Röckl and picturebooklab.
philosophical picture book workshop
Every child is a natural philosopher, but they rarely get to see their thoughts bound in a professional book. Throughout a full semester, we worked with students to transform their most pressing internal questions into a permanent, illustrated archive.
First, the children wrote down the questions that genuinely mattered to them. Then, in a series of group discussions, they tackled those very same questions, finding answers within themselves and each other.
The visual journey mirrored the intellectual one. We began with analog ink-and-brush workshops, focusing on the textures of a black-on-white illustration. In the end, the students transitioned to digital coloring, learning the technical steps required to turn a sketch into a print-ready page.
Participants: Ages 10–11
Created in collaboration with Savod Progress e.V.
