The WIA couldn’t take place without the help of our fantastic judges. The 2024 cohort of thirty industry professionals have shared their expertise across each of the ten WIA categories.
Image Credit: Lucy Davey – Waitrose Christmas Winter Village Chocolate Box
We asked some of our judges to select some of their favourite projects from the WIA2024 Professional Shortlist.
We’re so excited to share their thoughts on what made these particular projects stand out…
Advertising
This 60-meter arch billboard, is a refreshing take on Marvis Toothpaste. Brighting up Milan Central Station. We asked Mid Weight Art Director at TBWA MCR for their thoughts.
“This idea is like nothing I have ever seen before for something as boring as toothpaste, it’s engaging, fun and put a massive smile on my face.
The illustrations have brought the idea to life in a totally original and fun way. Really high level of attention to detail and craft which is great to see.”
Anna Loveland
Editorial
“I really like the style of this one – modern and simple, but complex at the same time. I like that the artist chose to depict a different side to Dr. Martin Luther King, not one often seen.
Through the simplicity and expressions, it somehow still manages to convey the emotion and joy in the family, and the characters of each child. The simple but almost retro colour tones help to show a time gone”
Kelley Sheenan – Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Designer of Peppermint
Publishing
“I really love this colour palette and the texture the illustrator has used through their work.
The layering of all the mediums has really produced a rich artwork that draws you in.
I also quite like the warped perspective that lets the reader see so much of the scene for extra interest.”
Pooja Desai – Art Director, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing
Children’s Publishing
A narrative nonfiction mystery picture book set in the depths of the ocean. We asked Strawberrie Donnelly, Art Director for Picture Books and Pre-School publishing at Bloomsbury Children’s Books for their thoughts.
“Easily one of the standout and most memorable entries in the competition. The artist’s use of light and reflective qualities is stunning. Super-clever use of reversed-out typography will make this book a really eye-catching one, and the cleverness never gets too overpowering.
It’s striking and appealing – and a fine example of using engaging characters and simplicity to convey complex information. I’d love to see this printed using neon inks!”
Strawberrie Donelly
Animation
A beautiful animation exploring the awakening of insects in the third solar term in the Chinese lunar year. We asked Animation Director, Illustrator and Lecturer Yawen Zheng for their thoughts.
“Very adorable story with a unique visual style. This animation combine the digital artwork with risograph printing textures perfectly. I haven’t see this kind of digital animation style so far.
Also the characteristics of each insects is very funny, to see how each insect wakes up from nature and how they connects to each other is also very interesting..”
Yawen Zheng
Book Covers
“Simple line drawing expertly rendered; brave and spare in its approach.
Raw quality of the crayon line very appropriate to the subject; stands out as contemporary and as a book that has something to say; great example of how line drawing can be used in illustration to great effect.”
Anna Ridley – Head of Children’s Publishing, Thames & Hudson Ltd
Exploration
“Beautiful illustration, I cant believe its done digitally and not an analogue painting!
A good balance of symbolic imagery, the red flower draws you in together with the woman’s gaze, slowly revealing the threat of the hands in the background. Very well-balanced and pleasant to look at while being just a bit eerie. Superb!”
Olivia Skoglund – Illustrator and Cartoonist
Design Product & Packaging
We asked Creative Director Zhou Jingkua for their thoughts on this vibrant artwork for Waitrose’s Christmas 2023 range.
“The scenes of the illustrations are very much in keeping with the festive atmosphere, and the day and night scenes create different visual sensations.
What is important is the effect of the illustration applied to the packaging design, which looks particularly suitable for buying as a Christmas gift, which creates a visual advantage for the sale of the product.”
Zhou Jingkua
Site Specific
Designed for the Psychologists of the Freie Universität Berlin, this mural aims to make children and teenagers feel more comfortable. We asked Visual artist and Educator, Neequaye Dreph for their thoughts.
“An audience appropriate mural well executed with great use of AR technology.”
Neequaye Dreph
Science & Technology
Last but not least a beautiful illustration, inspired by engravings from old natural history books. We asked Creative Director at Scientific American Michael Mrak for their thoughts.
“The graphic quality of the execution and simple yet accurate colour palette just feels right to me. Sure, birds have been done in about a million ways, but these make me want to see more.”
Michael Mrak
A big thanks to our judges for sharing their thoughts. You can explore the full WIA2024 Shortlist here.
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