The ten categories in the World Illustration Awards reflect the breadth of illustration being created today. 

Your project may fit into more than one category, so do check the descriptions to select which is the best for you. It can help to consider how you want your project to be seen, or the type of clients you might want to attract.

Illustration Sells

Illustration created for commercial advertising campaigns for products or services including:

• magazine print ads 
• billboards 
• TV commercials 
• broadcast 
• social media 
• websites 
• flyers 
• entire campaigns

Moving Images

Illustration made for animation, including animated gifs, and short or long-form films or videos.

This can include:

• traditional animation
• stop-motion animation
• character animation
• 2D or 3D animation
• animation for apps, websites, social media campaign or games
• Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality with an animated element.

Judging a Book by its Cover

Any cover artwork for books for readers of any age. This category includes whole cover artwork made for:

• children’s books
• self-published books
• books for a general readership

Inspiring the Next Generation of Readers

Illustration created for use in publications for readers under 16 years old including inside illustrations, whole book design or entire publications for:

• fiction
• non-fiction 
• educational books 
• picture books 
• interactive books 
• reference books 
• pop-up books 
• e-books

Shaping our Visual World

Including illustration for branding, products, logos, packaging for:

• fashion 
• graphic design
• product design 
• stationery, greetings cards and calendars 
• record sleeves 
• stamps 
• pattern, surface, textile and wallpaper design 
• typography and lettering 
• icons and logos
• games
• annual reports 
• poster design

Beyond Words

Illustration for journalism and comment in digital or print format for example:

• feature articles 
• news items 
• cartoons 
• political satire
• reportage
• documentary 
• current affairs

Show Ambition and Vision

Testing personal practice ideas that do not necessarily sit within any other category. This category recognises the importance of personal work to the practicing illustrator.

This category is for work made to establish a style, work through ideas, and develop a portfolio.

Books and Beyond

Illustration created for any book format for readers 16+ years old. This category includes inside illustrations or whole book design for:

• works of fiction 
• non-fiction 
• text books 
• e-books 
• interactive books 
• reference books 
• poetry and anthologies 
• graphic novels 
• picture books and humour 
• artist books 
• handmade books

Illuminating Complex Ideas

Illustration that represents or explains scientific, medical or technological concepts including:

• medical 
• botanical 
• architectural
• forensic
• scientific 
• archaeological 
• data visualisation 
• information visualisation

Enhancing Public Spaces

Illustration made for a particular place or space, for example:

• murals 
• street art 
• wall drawings
• graffiti
• wayfinding systems
• building wraps
• window decals
• hoardings

About THE AWARDS

The Association of Illustrators has run a juried illustration competition since 1976. The latest incarnation, the World Illustration Awards in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has been going strong and growing since 2015.

WIA focuses on supporting and celebrating creativity internationally, by connecting illustrators with their peers and the global illustration industry. 

The Awards are split into two groups: New Talent and Professional. All work, commissioned or self-initiated, is accepted across the ten categories as long as it has been created within the past year before the Call for Entries closes.