Welcome

WELCOME TO THE WORLD ILLUSTRATION AWARDS 2020!

The Awards are presented by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the US-based Directory of Illustration (DI) and supported by our wonderful partners.

This year we asked illustrators to be ambitious, be seen and be celebrated.

Over 4,000 entries were submitted from 79 countries, leaving our wonderful international jury with the unenviable task of selecting the winners and shortlist which you see in this catalogue.

But this is not all! You can enjoy in depth interviews, behind the scenes insights and a digital showcase celebrating the shortlist online at theaoi.com/world-illustration-awards

In this most strange of years the awards are a reassuring reminder of the strength, energy and creativity of illustrators around the world. As we navigate the economic and emotional fallout from the pandemic it is more important than ever that we work with respect and enable diversity to thrive. We need the broadest range of illustrators to explain and elucidate our world, sell products, create books and magazines.

To achieve that we need fair pay and equitable contracts. We need more illustrators to be seen. Don’t play it safe and stick only with artists that you know. Not this year.

I urge you all to reach out to one new illustrator whose work inspires you. Commission them if you can, but if you can’t, just speak with them. Start a dialogue, hear their story, inspire your own.

Let’s honour the ambition of our entrants – see them and celebrate them – and we will all reap the rewards.

Sabine Reimer, Awards Manager, Association of Illustrators