Three things go into every JBG product: a question worth asking, paper that lasts, and a kid who tested it. Here's the path from "wouldn't it be cool if..." to "your order has shipped."
1. The idea
Most of our maps and charts start with a question one of our kids asks at the dinner table. "Where's Madagascar?" "How many bones are in my hand?" "Why does my pencil have six sides?" If we can't find a beautiful, durable answer on the market, we make one.
2. The design
Every product is hand-laid out in our studio. We test typography for legibility at the size kids actually look at, pick colours from our cartographic palette so the whole catalogue feels like one library, and prototype on regular printer paper before anything goes near the production line.
3. The print
We use heavy 200gsm paper, FSC-certified where we can, with archival inks that won't fade in a sunny classroom window. After printing, every sheet gets a 5mil dual-side lamination — that's what makes them dry-erase, spill-proof, and survive a decade of homework.
4. The home test
Before any new product goes live on the site, it spends one full week at home with one of our kids. If it makes it into a binder, gets pinned to a wall, or sparks a "what about..." question, it's ready. If it gets shoved in a drawer, we go back to step two.
5. The pack
We ship from our NY studio in flat, recyclable kraft mailers — no plastic, no excessive padding. Most orders are picked, packed and out the door within 24 hours on weekdays.
If we wouldn't use it with our own children, we won't sell it to yours.