10 Kids TV Shows That Feature Awesome Design

written by Brian Morris on November 15, 2012

If you want cutting-edge design, look no further than children’s television shows. Today’s kids TV shows feature all kinds of wacky designs, many of which seem to lend themselves to marketing design trends.

1. Yo Gabba Gabba! By Sean Falkner Visit website»

Simple, colorful designs with no explanations for oddities such as the bumpy cyclops (kids don’t require explanations for such things), the character designs are fun and memorable. Simple, quirky designs a staples in marketing, too.

2. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Visit website»

Based on the classic artwork and stories by Dr. Seuss, “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That” features primary colors and a touch of the surreal.

3. Lazytown by Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson Visit website»

Texture and contrast define the design on this set, from the rubber-looking characters in Lazytown to the lead character’s bright pink hair. Contrast and texture are popular design elements for brochures, business cards and websites, too.

4. Fresh Beat Band by Jim C. Johnson Visit website»

Kid bands have always been popular, and this one is no exception. The fun music jives well with the retro-modern stylings of the clothes and set. Here, the power of design is invoked to create a mood.

5. WordWorld by Kim Ardnt Visit website»

The characters are molded from the letters that spell their species – a cool design concept that could serve as inspiration for your own graphic designs.

6. iCarly by Jason Howard Visit website»

For the preteen crowd, we have iCarly and her lofty urban apartment that serves as the set for her fictional Internet show within a show. Notice how key props stand out against brown and grays? Again, contrast for focus.

7. Sesame Street Visit website»

“Sesame Street” has mastered the power of color to define character traits and set a mood.

8. DoodleBops by Dan Pickering Visit website»

Color is used to differentiate between characters, much like it is employed to showcase different sales packages in brochures and on websites.

9. Hi-5 by Troy Armstrong Visit website»

Bright colors maintain fun scenery for characters who do not don costumes, but do sing catchy tunes – if you’re three.

10. Backyardigans by Dan Yaccarino Visit website»

The “Backyardigans” features a lot of cool design elements. Look closely and you’ll notice how the subtle shading and shadowing makes the characters and scenery come alive.