Getting your kids to enjoy the daily ritual of toothbrushing might become much easier with the new Curaprox Kids Superhero edition of toothbrushes. Introduce them to their own magical superpowers and let them vanquish dental plaque with the help of their superhero brush and fellow“hero-bacteria”. Find out more about the idea of this special edition and its designer, Gila von Meissner.
What was your path to becoming a designer?
After years as a marketing manager, I needed a break from corporate life. I switched to freelance design more than 10 years ago, and for the last five years I have been focusing mainly on illustration and children’s books.
What do you enjoy most in terms of your work?
My client list is a wild mix. I concentrate on illustrating (and often writing) picture books, but I also design pet-related packaging, greeting cards and kids’ products. Children’s books are certainly the most challenging and fulfilling, as the target group is so demanding.
What can’t you imagine a day without?
I always kick off the day with a coffee and a dog walk in the forest – usually my cat will come along too. I end the day with jasmine tea and some reading. Everything in between is wide open, although there is no day where I don’t draw. Taking my pets out for a walk, visiting the endangered farm-animal zoo next door, sitting by the lake and watching the kingfishers… these are my favourite rituals where I find inspiration.
What projects have you worked on with Curaprox?
I always knew Curaprox as a premium, science-based leader in its field. We first met during a packaging project a couple of years ago, and later on we worked on the picture book series starring bacteria characters by Curaprox. Last year I designed the Kids Graffiti edition, and I was asked to design a special edition this year, too. Combining education with fun stories is magic for me, but the true pleasure has been working with the team. Cooperation with amazing people hardly ever feels like work.
What’s the idea behind your special edition of toothbrushes?
The bacteria characters and the superhero theme was already given by Curaprox, and I was asked to bring them to life. The idea stands firm on the fact that everything in our body and mouth has its own role and is there for a reason, so labelling all bacteria as bad or harmful isn’t right. The cute bacteria characters on the packaging are there as part of this balance.
What was the biggest challenge of this design?
My task was to create a magical environment and a scene for the little critters to shine. With the slim canvas size to design for, fitting in all the important parts is always a challenge, but we made it work.
How would you like people to think of your toothbrushes?
Brushing your teeth multiple times a day might seem boring – so why not treat it as adventure? The toothbrush is your personal superhero, keeping you and your teeth healthy. Just imagine the cape on the top of the bristles, billowing in the wind as the toothbrush zips around your mouth! At the same time, kids have all the powers to keep their teeth healthy on their own and are just as much superheroes as the bacteria spinning their magic on this package.
Gila von Meissner is a freelance designer and illustrator from North Germany. She specialises in illustrated branding, packaging, and children’s books.
Her art is fun and approachable, with lovable characters, and painterly foliage and accents.
You can find more of Gila’s work on her Instagram and website, or follow her on X.
