Scott Stoll logo world traveler. A bicycle wheel and the globe symbolizes Scott's journey around the world on a bicycle.

How I make stuff

I’m not sure if I’m more of an adventurer at heart or more of an artist/author. But one thing is for sure, the adventure needs to come first. Adventure is my muse; my art is how I tell my story; and, my stories are meant to inspire, entertain and educate others. I truly wantto make a contribute and help raise humanity to new levels of amazingness.

Those are lofty ideals. Too lofty, probably. Anyway, here are some Articles about how I concept ideas, draw pictures and — most importantly — test my ideas in the real world to make sure they work!

If you would like to join the adventure — literally or figuratively — go here to learn how to make an adventure. Or please, help support our work.

The Dream Team wearing the 3 hats of turning dreams into reality: dream it, map it, play it.

How to make children's books

We moved all our stories about making children’s books, including our ground-breaking research, to our new website. Please visit How We Make Stuff on Dreamaplay

Our foster kitten posing with our book "Feel Your Feelings"

My cat editors

A quick story about my cat editors with lots of pictures of them “helping” me in the office.

A photo of us mimicking the pose of the presidents on Mount Rushmore.

How to make a memorable moment

In celebration of my website’s 20th anniversary and my 50th lap around the sun, I’ve written an extra-special story about how I live a life worth living, including making memorable moments and how friends shed new light on life.

Author versus the blank screen. How to write an online article for the internet.

Writing for the digital medium

Guidelines to writing an article that will be indexed by search engines and read by audiences. We’ll use this article itself as a kind of how-to template.

Blue Bicycle Design logo

Bicycle Logo Design

Graphic Design, Illustration and Production Scott funded most of his adventures, this website and a lot of school projects with the profits from years of working in the advertising business. Scott worked as either a senior graphic designer or art director in some of the best advertising agencies in the country, including TBWA\Chiat\Day when they

An animation of 4 aerial photographs of school kids standing in interesting shapes: bicycle, worm, cupcake and butterfly.

How the School Photo is made

Pictured here is a new and amazing photograph. Read about the making of the monarch butterfly school photo. Below is an overview of how we made the other photographs. The Cupcake Boy School Photo I think this is a beautiful picture even though it didn’t turn out as I imagined because I didn’t correct enough

The new book on the floor of the printer's shop waiting to be bound. Each stack is a set of pages.

How the book is made

The following is a step by step summary of how the book is made. It’s a 3-month project. Below is a rough outline because this is an ever-changing and improving process, and every school does things a little differently. In summary: Planning. Steps 0-3. Creating. Steps 4-13. Celebrating. Step 15. Don’t miss step 15! Making

The Giving Tree redux. A new ending with new pictures. The man sits on the stump with the caption, "And the tree was happy." But was it really?

The Giving Tree Sequel

I’ve always been disturbed that the tree sacrifices itself to a greedy old man—so I rewrote the ending and drew new pictures matching the font and style.

Aspect English Language School Logos

What makes a good logo?

8 steps to designing the perfect logo with examples and descriptions. Tips from concept to execution. Featuring some of Scott’s best graphic design.

apple logo changes by year

What is a logo?

What is a logo? Well, it’s not artwork, not even an illustration. We discuss the history of some famous logos, meaning brands — Yes! — like a cow brand and not much different than a hieroglyph or an emoji.

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