From the very beginning, I knew the Birth Lines memory books had to carry my own signature. Not only in the content, but also in the illustrations, design and colours. Birth Lines originally began with drawing ultrasound illustrations, and that minimalist, refined style still forms the foundation of everything I create today. It therefore felt natural to let that recognisable style return in the memory books as well.
It was important to me that the moment you open the book, you are immediately drawn into its atmosphere. A warm, almost magical feeling, as if you are opening a time capsule. That is why each memory book begins with a hand-illustrated pattern created by me, fully designed in the spirit of that specific book. On this very first page, you also fill in the child’s name and who is completing the book. From that moment on, the book transforms into a personal story that will be preserved forever.
I wanted the illustrations to truly add something, without becoming busy or childish. It had to be timeless. Illustrations that enhance the memories, while still allowing calmness to remain on the page.
For the Pregnancy & Baby Memory Book, for example, I drew pregnancy tests, a baby in the womb, a bottle, a dummy and tiny feet. Small, subtle illustrations that reflect the phase you are in. The weekly pregnancy updates were also given a personal touch. Every two weeks, I illustrated a baby in the womb, aligned with that stage of development. This allows you to see your baby gradually grow. I also illustrated the fruits often used to compare size during pregnancy. It makes the development visual and tangible, and that is precisely what makes it so special to look back on later.
In the Childhood Memory Book, I designed illustrations that invite you to add your own memories. One of my favourite examples is the baby teeth page. Here, parents can record exactly when each tooth came through. These are the small details you might otherwise forget, yet they become incredibly meaningful to read back years later.
Alongside the illustrations, the layout played a major role in the design. I wanted the memory books to be suitable for everyone. For girls and boys, but also for every personal taste and style. That is why I consciously chose a neutral foundation with soft tones and plenty of white space. That gives you the freedom to truly make the book your own. You can keep it as minimal as you like, or fill it completely with coloured pens, stickers, photographs and personal additions.
The cover colours were also chosen very intentionally. Each colour is aligned with the type of memory book and the phase it represents. The Pregnancy & Baby Memory Book has a soft beige linen cover, a warm and gentle shade that reflects the beginning of a new life. Every book within the collection has its own distinctive colour, carefully selected to enhance the meaning and atmosphere of that specific book.
At the same time, all books together form one cohesive collection. When you place multiple memory books from the collection side by side, the colours complement one another beautifully. This creates a timeless, colour-coordinated series that is not only lovely to use, but also beautiful to display as a lasting keepsake on a shelf or in a cabinet.
Everything was designed with the idea that this book would last for many years. Not only as a memory book for now, but as a lasting keepsake for later. A book your child will one day open, where your words, your handwriting and your memories come together.
The illustrations, colours and design subtly carry my signature. But ultimately, each book gains something far more valuable: your story.