Revitalizing the Legacy of Choose Your Own Adventure

I was responsible for designing A+ content pages for over 100 titles on Amazon, blending modern marketing strategies with the nostalgic charm of this iconic brand. Each page required hours of work, from digging through archives for imagery to curating customer reviews and creating layouts that honored the legacy of the series while appealing to today’s readers. This project helped boost sales, reintroduce the brand to a new generation, and reconnect with longtime fans, ensuring Choose Your Own Adventure continues to inspire adventurers of all ages.

A young Yasmina reading her collection of Choose Your Own Adventure Books

Growing up, Choose Your Own Adventure books were more than just a pastime—they were an escape. These books gave me the chance to explore far-off lands, solve mysteries, and make choices that shaped the story, all from the comfort of my small-town public library. The series, with its interactive storytelling format and endless possibilities, has captured the imaginations of readers since its debut in 1979, selling over 250 million copies worldwide.

The books span a wide range of genres, from science fiction and fantasy to historical fiction and real-world survival, inviting readers to become the protagonists in their own story. Whether navigating the perils of space, hunting for treasure, or unraveling ancient secrets, each decision holds the power to lead to triumph or disaster, making every read a unique adventure.

Having the opportunity to work with ChooseCo, the company behind these books, was a dream come true. As part of their efforts to reintroduce this beloved series to a new generation, I was entrusted with creating visually compelling A+ content brand pages for their Amazon storefront. This project not only allowed me to celebrate the legacy of Choose Your Own Adventure but also showcase my skills in design, storytelling, and marketing strategy.

Understanding My Role

During my internship with ChooseCo, I supported a critical rebranding initiative to help the Choose Your Own Adventure series stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. While the series has been a beloved staple of children’s literature for decades, the shift in book-selling to platforms like Amazon required a significant change in marketing strategies. The project’s goal was to establish a stronger, more polished presence on Amazon by creating A+ content brand pages that would resonate with both new and nostalgic audiences.

Internship Responsibilities

  • Content Creation: Designed and developed A+ content pages for 93 individual books and 11 box sets, showcasing the unique spirit of each story while adhering to Amazon’s branding and content guidelines.

  • Visual Storytelling: Crafted custom graphics and layouts that blended the nostalgia of the series with modern design trends, helping longtime fans (now parents) instantly recognize the brand and feel confident introducing these books to their children.

  • Market Positioning: Addressed the challenges of an oversaturated children’s book market by creating polished, professional pages that enhanced the brand’s credibility and differentiated Choose Your Own Adventure from competitors.

  • Strategic Marketing Support: Contributed to the rebranding strategy by ensuring all content reinforced ChooseCo’s legacy while appealing to the buying habits of Amazon customers.

This effort was about more than just improving visibility—it was about reestablishing Choose Your Own Adventure as a trusted, iconic brand for families. By modernizing their approach and presenting a consistent, professional image, ChooseCo was able to reconnect with the parents who grew up loving these books while inspiring a new generation of readers to dive into their thrilling, interactive adventures.

Diving Deeper: The Process Behind Each Page

Creating A+ content pages for over 100 titles in the Choose Your Own Adventure series was no small task. Each page I designed required hours of dedicated effort to balance the brand's decades-long legacy with the need for a fresh, modern appearance. The challenge was to capture the nostalgic charm of the series while making it relevant and appealing to today's market.

Following the Brand’s Legacy

The significance of Choose Your Own Adventure as a cultural icon meant that every detail had to honor its history. I worked within a well-established brand guide, carefully ensuring consistency while incorporating subtle modern touches. This guide served as the foundation for the visuals, ensuring that long-time fans would immediately recognize the brand while new readers were drawn in by its clean, updated presentation.

Tools and Techniques

To build the content, I utilized Amazon’s A+ Content tools, which are designed to enhance product pages with custom layouts, images, and text. The platform offers modular features that allow for dynamic storytelling, including comparison charts, product highlights, and enhanced visuals. However, these tools came with their own constraints, and it required creative problem-solving to make the pages visually engaging while working within the platform's limits. I used a combination of Photoshop and Canva to design each brand page.

Content Curation and Design

To create individualized and compelling pages:

  • Archive Mining: I meticulously combed through thousands of pages from the company’s book archives to find striking imagery, vintage covers, and illustrations that could bring each title to life. This was an intensive process, as the goal was to select visuals that were both meaningful and reflective of the story’s unique adventure.

  • Customer Reviews: I sifted through thousands of reviews to highlight the most enthusiastic and heartfelt comments, ensuring that each page featured genuine testimonials that spoke to the series' enduring appeal.

  • Tailored Layouts: Every page required a customized design approach, blending nostalgic elements like original book art with modern visuals to create a cohesive yet fresh look. Some titles were easier to work with due to richer resources, while others required creative solutions to fill content gaps.

Attention to Detail

With more than 100 pages to design, maintaining high quality across all titles was critical. Each page was tailored to highlight the unique storyline and genre of the book it represented, from thrilling space explorations to treasure hunts and time-travel adventures. The individualized approach ensured that no two pages looked the same, reflecting the diversity and depth of the series.

Impact: Revitalizing Sales and Reconnecting with Audiences

The work I did on the Choose Your Own Adventure Amazon A+ content pages had a dramatic impact on the series' visibility and sales. By creating over 100 tailored, visually engaging pages, I helped reintroduce this iconic brand to a new generation of readers while rekindling nostalgia among parents who grew up with these books.

Key Outcomes:

  • Significant Sales Growth: The polished and professional A+ content pages boosted customer confidence, leading to a measurable increase in sales across individual titles and box sets. The enhanced product presentation helped Choose Your Own Adventure stand out in Amazon’s crowded marketplace, drawing the attention of both casual shoppers and dedicated fans.

  • Increased Brand Recognition: The modernized yet nostalgic designs reinforced Choose Your Own Adventure as a trusted, timeless brand. Parents instantly recognized the series from their childhood and felt inspired to share the stories with their own children.

  • Improved Customer Engagement: Featuring thoughtful reviews and archival imagery created a deeper connection with the audience, making the shopping experience more personal and immersive. Readers could easily see the value and significance of the books, leading to more informed purchasing decisions.

  • Long-Term Impact: Beyond the immediate sales boost, these A+ content pages established a stronger Amazon presence for ChooseCo, ensuring their titles remain competitive in an evolving digital book market.

Conclusion: A Dream Come True

Having the opportunity to work with Choose Your Own Adventure was nothing short of life-changing. As someone who spent countless childhood weekends immersed in these stories, helping to revitalize the brand felt deeply personal and rewarding. This project was not just a chance to apply my skills in design and marketing but also an opportunity to give back to a series that inspired my imagination and shaped my love for storytelling.

I’m incredibly grateful to have contributed to a brand I’ve cherished for so long. The experience taught me the importance of balancing creativity with strategy, honoring a legacy while embracing innovation, and ultimately creating something that has a meaningful impact. It’s a privilege to have been part of the journey to ensure Choose Your Own Adventure continues to inspire new generations of readers to dream, explore, and, of course, choose their own adventure.