Directory of Illustration Award Cross-Category Shortlist
Meet the 10 illustrators shortlisted for the WIA2024 DI Cross Category Award.
Image Credit: Jennifer N. R. Smith | WonderTheory BANG: The Wild Wonders of Earth’s Phenomena
Workbook’s Directory of Illustration is one of the world’s leading illustration resources, helping illustrators gain commissions across the Illustration industry from advertising to publishing and key commercial companies.
This years DI Award winner, selected from all the Professional projects shortlisted for WIA2024 will receive a marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, valued at $2,700 US Dollars.
The program includes a 100-image professional portfolio on directoryofillustration.com plus a one-on-one consultation with a professional Directory of Illustration marketing consultant on how to best present your work to the American market. An amazing opportunity to help illustrators successfully grow and sustain their professional careers!
A big thanks to the team at Directory of Illustration for making this possible. Our DI Award Winner and Shortlist were selected by:
Bob Pastore
Illustration Director,
Workbook Creative, Inc.
Marika Carradine Lind
Marketing & Social Media Manager,
Workbook Creative, Inc.
Cliff McIntyre
Sr. Marketing Consultant,
Workbook Creative, Inc.
We’ll be sharing the DI Award winner at the WIA2024 Awards Ceremony on 10th September. For now be sure to check out the10 illustrators in the running for the WIA2024 DI Cross Category Award.
Jennifer N. R. Smith – Wonder Theory
BANG: The Wild Wonders of Earth’s Phenomena
This vibrant illustration captures the wonder of natural wold.
The highly detailed illustration cascading across the page shows the variations of natural elements from deep down in the earth to high in the sky.
Creates as a large format children’s non-fiction book, published by Thames and Hudson. The book utilises composition and scale to create an energetic love letter to the planet.
Jennifer loves presenting familiar topics in unfamiliar ways by exploring broken down structures and detailing tectonic plates and the earths structures.
The book hopes to inspire a whole new generation of young earth scientists!
Jennifer N R Smith is an illustrator based in the UK
Doug John Miller – Lithium and Beyond
This series of illustrations were commissioned bv The Royal Society of Chemistry to illustrate the ever changing world of battery technology and the huge implications the use of lithium has on our daily lives.
Playing with scale by creating highly detailed 3D illustrations. The cover transforms seemingly ordinary batteries into vibrant hubs of cultivation
Doug began by sketching out a range of researched ideas in Procreate before designing a 3D model showing the world of Lithium.
The use of colour really ties the illustrations together creating a vibrant piece of work that jumps off the page.
Doug John Miller is an illustrator based in the UK
Jason Raish – FIT Black Student Illustrators Award 2023
Jason collaborated with vintage style activist Dandy Wellington to raise funds for FIT Black Student Illustrators Award.
The FIT Black Student Illustrators Award helps bridge the gap for Black students between graduation and professional success, addressing underrepresented by championing exceptional talent.
Inspired by vintage high fashion the illustrations fuse a traditionally stuffy, conservative style and contrast this with modern self expressive tattoos. Dandy Wellington states the piece explores “Vintage Style not Vintage Values.”
The beautiful pastel colour palette feel soft and delicate heavily inspired by the vintage style of illustration from the era.
Jason Raish is an illustrator based in Brooklyn, USA.
Mark Smith – The Missing Mouseketeer
Created for a feature in the Alta Journal about one of the original members of the Mickey Mouse club, Dennis Day. This illustration captures the mystery surrounding Dennis’s tragic murder.
The clever use of negative space has a somber undertone that hints to the murder. Combining iconic childhood icons and eerie smiles with a cropped composition, creates a melancholy illustration that captures the mystery of the story.
The traditional style of Ink and digital further captures the era of the investigation.
Mark Smith is an illustrator based in the UK
Dawn Xintong Yang – Sincere Gifts
Created as album artwork for Benben Sings album “Sincere Gift” these illustrations dive deep into capturing the singers process and their inspiration behind the album.
The dreamlike illustrations allow us to dive into the mind behind the music. Combining elements from the songs from the album
Song names such as “dusk and night” are illustrated through hazy twilight colour pallets and dreamlike worlds. Playing with upside down compositions to create a sense of distortion.
Rich in detail, the illustrations were created for a full vinyl sleeve and CD packaging.
Dawn Xintong is an Illustrator based in USA.
Alyah Holmes – Period Poverty
This powerful series of Illustrations were commissioned for Plan Internationals Menstrual Health Day.
Inspired by the shocking statistic that 1 in 4 people who menstruate have had to choose between period products or food, and 82% of people who menstruate believe period products are too expensive.
Alyah plays with this to symbolically depicted period products as a plate of food, illustrating how period products are a right and not a luxury.
The vibrant use of colour creates a playful and intriguing approach that makes complex issues easy to digest. Allowing for these important statistics to be shared in an engaging insightful way.
Alyah Holmes is an illustrator based in Canada.
Priscilla Tey – Formula 1 Singapore Suite, A City in Nature
These immersive illustrations were created for the SG Formula 1 Grand Prix, filling the walls of the VIP suite.
The mural illustrations celebrate Singapore as a Formula 1 location by emphasising the cities unique fusion with nature.
Pulling inspiration from traditional architectural motifs and arches, the natural elements grow up the walls to create a tropical haven. The clever illusions of depth allows for the illustrations to capture both past and present Singapore. Referencing iconic landmarks, communities and the vibrancy of the city. The illustrations feel as if you could walk inside them as immersive beautiful worlds.
Priscilla used a combination of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Procreate before printing the artwork onto vinyl stickers to be adhered onto the walls.
Priscilla Tey is an illustrator based in Singapore.
Xavier Mula – Innoble Wine Fest 2023 – Innoble Wine Mag no.3
Xavier was commissioned by Innoble, the iconic wine magazine for The 2023 Innoble Wine Festival in Spain.
Designing illustrations for the magazine cover, festival posters and promotional merchandising such as t-shirts and tote bags.
The client wanted an advertising campaign with a twist, eschewing formality. The illustrations feel bold and playful incorporating a sophisticated colour palette.
The illustrations have a humorous style showing the figure taking flight, creating a surreal feeling of escapism.
Xavier Mula is an illustrator based in Spain.
Balbusso Twins – Margaret Atwood masterpieces (covers)
This series of cover artworks were created for the 21 Margaret Atwood’s masterpieces published by Corriere Della Sera.
Designed by artist duo The Balbusso Twin, the series pulls from iconic themes within the novels to showcase the dark dystopian tone of the books.
The bold graphic style and use of repetition creates a dramatic illustration that captures the audience straight away.
Using minimal palettes to create a cohesive dynamic look.
Balbusso Twins is an artist duo based in Italy.
Owen Davey – Can I Come Too?
Inspired by his own children, and watching how they play together. Owen found a fresh perspective in his own childhood that looks at how siblings interact with one another.
The 32 page picture book about sibling relationships, illustrates the tribes and tribulations of being a younger sibling whilst showcasing the joy of the relationship.
Owens use cohesive colour palette creates a beautiful world for the characters. Combining geometric shapes with iconic characters and very subtle textures.
The final artworks were created with Adobe Illustrator to help build shapes and Adobe Photoshop for final colouring and artwork. The book has a modern fresh feel, whilst still having the warmth of childhood.
Owen Davey is an illustrator based in the UK.
If you enjoyed reading this curated list, be sure to keep explore the rest of the WIA2024 Shortlist Showcase. We will be adding materials until September.
We’ll be sharing the winner of The DI Cross Category Award at the WIA Awards Ceremony on 10th September 2024.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the World Illustration Awards by signing up to our mailing list!
Back to News Page