Skip to content
The Association of Illustrators (AOI), in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has unveiled the much-anticipated shortlist for the World Illustration Awards 2025. From over 4,700 submissions across 85 countries, just 200 projects have been selected—now available to explore in an impressive Online Showcase that celebrates the very best in global illustration.
Spanning categories such as Editorial, Children’s Books, Science & Technology, and Site Specific, this year’s entries highlight the sheer breadth and talent of contemporary illustrators, with judges praising the innovation, emotion and technical brilliance across the board.
We’re impressed by all of the work on display. Who Flew The Coop? is a card game illustrated by Paperface, shortlisted in the Design Product & Packaging category. “The brief was to create funny, mug-shot style portraits for a cast of 24 different breeds of chicken,” she explains. “They needed to be distinctive, engaging and communicate various aspects of the chickens’ personalities, as this played a part in the game itself.”
Collect Them All by Liberty Opal (Design Product & Packaging)
The Magic Bookshop by Nancy Nan (Editorial)
There’s also The Magic Bookshop by Nancy Nan, created for AKA NYC’s yearly calendar. The inspiration apparently came from one of the artist’s favourite children’s bookstores in New York City. “Every time I step inside and browse through the picture books, it feels like I’m embarking on a journey into a magical world of imagination. This illustration captures the sights, emotions, and sense of wonder I experience in these bookstores, conveying the essence of these extraordinary spaces.”
“Judging this year’s entries was like being handed a front-row seat to a visual fireworks show,” said Editorial judge Dian Holton. “The range, heart, and sheer imagination in the work was a reminder of just how thrilling this field can be.”
Tim Claeys, a judge in the Exploration and Science & Technology categories, echoed the excitement: “The standard of illustrations we were presented with was really high and stylistically diverse. Illustrators are leveraging technology not just for efficiency but to push visual boundaries.”
The Accessible ABC’s by Bailey Crouch (Design Product & Packaging)
Choco Tapes by Gianvito Turi (Design Product & Packaging)
Safe Spectrum: Beforeplay – National Health Campaign by Duckie The Duck (Advertising)
Lee Hao Poetry Book Cover by Spike Chien (Book Covers)
Three Book Covers: A Unified Design System by Cheuk Lam Siu (Lotte Siu) (Book Covers))
My Name is Jemima by Allison Colpoys (Children’s Publishing)
The Online Showcase includes curated highlights, artist interviews, and original content from shortlisted creatives, all of whom remain in the running to win awards in their respective categories. Each category recognises both New Talent and Professional entries, with 20 Highly Commended projects, 20 Category Winners, and two Overall Winners set to be revealed during a live broadcast on 16 September 2025.
There are also four cross-category honours, including the SAA Award for an unrepresented student and the XPPen Digital Innovation Award for the most cutting-edge digital work.
Presented annually by the AOI and the Directory of Illustration, the World Illustration Awards is one of the industry’s most prestigious platforms, celebrating creativity and elevating illustrators on a global stage.
Explore the full shortlist now at worldillustrationawards.com/projects. Good luck to all those involved.
Quantum reference frames: an insight by Michele Sclafani (Science & Technology)
