We’re celebrating Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week, and that means shining a spotlight on the artists of Poptron! This week, we speak to Shafika of imagishary KIDS, who shares her goals, passions, and inspirations with us!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Shafika, and imagishary is my creative name! It comes from yes – you guess it – my imaginary creative mind. I am a professional marketer and creative designer.
How did you come up with the idea to start Imagishary KIDS?
I’ve always understood the importance of art in furthering human progress. Being born into a family of educators nurtured my soft spot for education. Imagishary KIDS is the culmination of both my loves: Education and Artistry, and thus combines the best of both worlds to push boundaries and explore new ways to express creativity with learning sense.
What inspired you to focus on art prints for child development and mental growth?
Children have demonstrated that art accelerates learning in addition to improving life skills. Putting kids in environments where they can completely express their creative sides can inspire their imaginations outside of the realm of the arts, cultivate vital abilities crucial to their growth, and elevate the right sides of their brains!
Can you walk us through your creative process when designing new things for Imagishary KIDS?
My creative process is mostly fueled by my pinterest pins and Instagram saved folder! Normally, I do some research on the educational value of each aspect in the piece, from the usage of colour to the elements chosen for the poster. I also consult my close friends who are parents for firsthand information about how their kids learn.
How do you ensure that the art you create is both educational and engaging for children?
Imagishary KIDS has produced two designs for learning posters: nature and space. The former is designed to keep children grounded so that they can learn about the world around them. This will further refine their sense of curiosity, encouraging them to learn about ‘out-of-world’ elements beyond the earth’s confinements – thus leading to the latter.
Can you talk about some of the specific ways that your art prints have helped children with their development or mental growth? What’s the nicest thing a customer has said about your products?
I received feedback on how my poster had been helping kids learn better since the graphics are large and easy for their eyes to catch. Some parents purchased my posters to encourage their kids’ interests, in, for example, the solar system. Hearing my customers’ children name every planet made me happy!
Related: Imagishary KIDS On Their Amazing Journey Bridging Art and Child Development
How do you see Imagishary Kids evolving in the future?
I’d like for imagishary KIDS to serve as a local market leader for children’s products, particularly in the area of education. We can unearth a lot of untapped potential in this market!
Can you tell us about a particularly memorable moment or accomplishment with Imagishary KIDS?
Imagishary has been collaborating closely with a few rural Malaysian schools. One of the schools we collaborate closely with is SK Sg Rual in Kelantan, where the majority of the pupils are of orang asli origin. To support their education and help them reach their full potential, we have sponsored educational resources for them.
How do you see the role of art and creativity in child development and mental growth?
Creativity goes hand in hand with child development. You can observe whether children are on par with their brain development through their drawings because it’s the easiest way for them to express their imagination and motor skills. They can’t read or count, but they surely can scribble down what is in their mind. The drawing is on paper – or on the wall, which we’ll deal with later!
What advice would you give to parents and educators interested in using art to support a child’s development and mental growth?
Encourage creativity and let children explore and express themselves through art without imposing constraints. Allow children to work at their own pace and be patient with their process. And always make it fun, make art a fun and enjoyable experience for the child, rather than a task to be completed.
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