Elsa Martins – Designer

Hi! I'm Elsa and I'm a children's illustrator and graphic designer with 10+ years of experience and more than 40 books under my belt.

My goal is to bring stories to life through creative and fun illustrations, for young children. My work is whimsical, colorful and will hopefully bring a smile to your face.

My background in Photography and Graphic Design has made me a better illustrator. Need me to also design your book? No problem!

I've collaborated with authors, publishers, and brands worldwide, designing playful picture books with bold, attention-grabbing covers.

I take a personalized, hands-on approach to every project. When creating children's books, I focus on designing images that are colorful, joyful, and captivating—perfect for sparking young imaginations.

How I Work:

Concept Development: The journey begins with exploring ideas, sketching initial concepts, and discussing the direction of the project. We’ll experiment with characters, layouts, and the overall vibe to make sure we’re aligned on the vision.

Bringing It to Life: Once the initial designs are approved, I move to the next step: adding color, texture, and depth to the artwork. This is where the visuals start to truly take shape.

Final Touches: After the illustrations are complete, I handle the layout and overall design of the book if needed.

Let's make magic!

Things people have said after working with me:

I enjoyed commissioning you and found your creative process really intuitive. Starting with a sketch, you asked me what I thought and it was good to see you working in that way. Your style is very fresh and adds a lot of life to my pages – something that’s important in a business title. - Clare Kelly (Pet Product Magazine)

Working with Elsa was a very positive experience. In publishing, timelines are very strict and she always delivered on time. She quickly understood our vision for the project and was always open to our feedback. - Filipa Casqueiro (Penguin Random House)