Museum Of Natural History, Skopje

Project: 'Insects Through Children's Eyes'

-Инсектите Низ Детските Очи-

In Collaboration with The City Of Skopje - Museum Of Natural Sciences, North Macedonia

Role: Character Designer & Illustrator

Introduction

The project “Insects Through Children’s Eyes” aims to bring the space of the Natural History Museum to life through art and illustration, making it more engaging and memorable for a younger audience.

The initiative focuses on presenting the world of insects in a simple, playful, and visually appealing way, transforming the museum into a more welcoming and unforgettable place for children—especially given its close proximity to the Zoo, a location that already attracts family visitors.

As part of the initial phase, seven original illustrations were created, inspired by real insects from the museum’s collection. These works represent the first step toward a larger planned series of 30 illustrations.

1. Research and Inspiration
The first phase of the project focused on researching selected insects from the museum’s permanent exhibition. Rather than aiming for scientific or anatomically precise representations, the insects served as inspiration for creative interpretation.

The goal of these illustrations is not scientific accuracy, but to:

capture children’s attention,
present the insect world as approachable, interesting, and fun,
create a positive association with both the museum and nature.

Each insect was given its own character and stylistic approach, designed to evoke empathy and curiosity in a young audience.

2. Initial Sketches and Design Development
The creative process began with hand-drawn sketches on paper, exploring different shapes, expressions, and character dynamics.

Through several stages of refinement, each insect developed a clear visual personality and a recognizable appearance suited for children, with strong potential for marketing and promotional use.

3. Digital Production in Procreate
Once the core forms and characters were defined, the sketches were transferred into Procreate for digital development, including:

refining and cleaning up linework,
selecting vibrant, cheerful color palettes,
adding distinctive character details to each insect,
finalizing designs for use across various media (panels, posters, stickers, promotional materials, etc.)

The entire process was documented through photographs and screenshots, showcasing the progression from initial concept to final digital artwork.

4. Potential Applications
The illustrations hold strong promotional and educational potential.

In addition to their primary use within the museum space, they can be:

adapted into sticker sets, magnets, brochures, or souvenirs,
incorporated into educational materials and children’s activities,
used as part of the museum’s visual identity.

In this way, the project supports the museum’s cultural and educational mission while also contributing to increased visitor engagement and public interest.

With the creation of these seven illustrations, the foundation of “Insects Through Children’s Eyes” has been established.

The project delivers original visual material that is:

tailored for children,
educational in a creative and engaging way,
adaptable for both promotional and museum use.

This initial phase marks an important step toward completing the full series of 30 illustrations, which will enrich the museum with a contemporary, playful, and educational visual identity.

By bringing together art, nature, and education, the project transforms the museum into a more engaging and accessible space for new generations of visitors.