The AOI, in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, is delighted to announce the World Illustration Awards 2021 winners, including 20 Category Winners, 20 Highly Commended projects, four Cross-Category Award Winners, and two Overall Winners, who are the recipients of cash prizes.

The winners have been selected from a shortlist of 200 projects, drawn from over 5280 entries from 82 countries. They were announced on 12 October 2021 at an online Awards Ceremony, presented by renowned illustrator Axel Scheffler and a host of special guest presenters.

Following the Awards Ceremony, an online Celebration Programme of events and masterclasses will run throughout October and November, highlighting areas of current importance, including alternative routes into illustration, and exploring the importance of increasing diversity within the industry. A printed catalogue of all 200 shortlisted projects is also available to buy from the AOI website.

The AOI CEO Ren Renwick says “Tonight is a celebration of the 200 shortlisted project for this year’s awards, but even bigger than that, it is a celebration of the resilience, creativity, imagination and vitality of our industry. The WIA2021 competition is for illustration made from January 2020 to February 2021 – so most of this work will have been created during the COVID-19 pandemic with all of the social and financial impacts that came with it. We have been overwhelmed by the joy, brilliance and variety of work that was entered this year.”

The World Illustration Awards is a year-long celebration and showcase of illustration, bringing together creatives, industry, commissioners and art directors, celebrating great illustration on a scale like never before.