Published 19.05.2026
by Kids’ Own
by Kids’ Own
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A children's arts organisation and publishing house.
We are thrilled to announce that Kids’ Own and printers, W&G Baird have won Gold at the Irish Print Awards in the category of Print & Design Collaboration! The award was given to our new book, I Jumped So High, which will be officially launched in May, in collaboration with project partner Aoibhneas, a Dublin based refuge and support service for women and children.
To mark this fantastic achievement, our graphic designer Martin Corr reflects on the thinking and process behind the book’s design. Martin has worked closely with Kids’ Own across many publications, shaping how children’s artwork and writing are held on the page. In this piece, he shares how the stories and visuals created by young participants informed the look and feel of the book, and the collaborative work involved in bringing it to print.
“My name is Martin Corr. I am a graphic designer. I work on the design and print production of many of Kids’ Own books and publications. For the book I Jumped So High, the inspiration for the design and layout came from, as with all Kids’ Own books, the artwork and stories produced by the participants. The stories had a calmness about them and the artwork reflected time and space. There was an architectural quality built into the stories and artwork, with descriptions of living spaces and places where one could feel safe and secure. From these stories and artworks, I was inspired to create a spacious, calm design for the book.
I took much inspiration for the book layout from artist Maree Hensey who worked on the project with the participants. Her visuals helped to shape the feel and design of the book.
As well as the design and layout, the book was technically quite a challenge to produce. Working closely with Don Hawthorn of W&G Baird, we managed to realise this design. Of the 48 pages in the book, 8 were simulator (trace) pages that had to be inserted at specific points. As such, the design and flow of the book had to be built around their positioning. For the cover, we used a hardback with very simple typography. To lift this, we added a spot UV varnish on the title, with a soft-touch matt laminate.
The end result is a carefully produced publication, shaped through close collaboration between design and print. I am very proud of the work, and it was a real pleasure to see it recognised with Gold at the Irish Print Awards.”
We can’t wait to officially launch this book in May and share more information about the project itself and the incredible work of the children who took part.
Read more about the project here: https://kidsown.ie/projects/aoibhneas-domestic-abuse-support/
