With families spread across statelines, and the globe you’ve got to love products that bring traditionally shared experiences closer — like storytelling. Or story creation to be more precise. That’s what you get with Storybird, an online tool that lets Bella in San Jose, take turns crafting a story with Grandma in Des Moines. Selecting from beautifully illustrated characters and scenes, using their own words to make up a co-authored storybook.
On the surface it may seem like another quaint custom ebook tool but Storybird is actually a marketplace. A platform for illustrators to connect with consumers, like Esty is to crafters and Foodzie is to gourmet treat producers. Artisits, animators, illustrators are always looking for ways to break into children’s book publishing. Storybird presents an avenue for creatives to test market, build a brand and potentially make a profit. The team seems have given a lot of thought to how artists can develop their brand, providing you with a shop and data to see what’s working and what’s not so hot. For example, how many times are people selecting your artwork, and who considers your work their favourite. So you can nurture fans and build your own market base.
It’s probably best to start out viewing Storybird as a learning tool if you’re new to illustration. Discover whether or not you can move a story along in pictures, while leaving enough room for the user’s imagination. Looking at the quality of the illustrations, Storybird has set the bar high which is a good thing. It helps you gauge if your skills are of publishable quality. Just try and see what happens!
Sneak peek #3: artist edition from Storybird on Vimeo.