A colourful illustration on a yellow background featuring a collection of surreal, stylised creatures. The figures are rendered in a bold palette of red, black, and white, accompanied by red Hebrew calligraphy in the centre.

World Illustration Awards 2023 winners include Beyapanicha and Harriet Noble

This year’s overall winners are united by their sense of playfulness, dynamic characters and intriguing use of space.

Words: Liz Gorny
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Date: 13 September 2023; News
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The Association of Illustrators (AOI) has announced the winners of this year’s World Illustration Awards. Two projects – the first by Tel Aviv-based graphic designer and illustrator Stav Assis and the second by Israel-based illustrators Orit Bergman and Anat Warshavsky – have been awarded as overall winners. The Awards received 5,000 entries from 84 countries this year, which were narrowed down to 200 shortlisted projects by an independent jury.

Stav Assis’ project, which was submitted in the Design Product & Packaging Category, was matchbox-sized. Stav used the shape of a dog’s body to create a logo for a matchbox brand, developing a host of changing patterns for each package. The judges commended the illustrator for the skill shown against a small canvas. “I think this series works very well,” says judge and Happy People studio director Pomme Chan. “I love the fun feeling that brings a smile to me.”

An illustration of a domestic interior split into two scenes. In the top half, a white dog sleeps under a round wooden table next to a chair and a bowl of fruit. The bottom half shows a kitchen counter with a pink kettle, a mesh shopping bag, and a sink. — Above
Beyapanicha (Professional Publishing Category Winner): What Happen In The Room (Copyright © Beyapanicha)

While Stav was playing with spatial constrictions, Orit and Anat created a range of children’s illustrations that were blown up into a 3D site-specific exhibition. Eclectic character design was key to the work. “The moment I saw this project I wanted to jump into the screen to be able to experience that installation in person,” says Book Covers judge Jefferson Quintana. “The elements created are very rich as individuals but also work perfectly together creating a harmonious playful universe. A perfect way to celebrate the power of imagination.”

Spatial exploration continued in the Professional Publishing category. Beyapanicha was awarded as category winner for an original comic strip for Kiblind Magazine, in which stories are confined to one room and a square format. Harriet Noble rose to the top in the advertising category, for an “informative but friendly” work raising awareness around the topic of gynaecological cancer.

“Our 2023 winners have truly mastered their crafts, skilfully utilising illustration to explore narratives, evoke emotions, and express complex ideas,” says AOI CEO Rachel Hill. “We are proud to recognise and reward these winners for their important contributions to the illustration industry this year, made from all corners of the globe.”

You can browse the entire list of shortlisted projects and winners here.

A colourful illustration for a beer garden event series in May 2022. A giant bottle of “Amore Mio” and a large tennis ball tower over a surreal landscape of palm trees, white plastic chairs and a swimming pool. The top half of the image lists a schedule of events and DJs against a bright orange background. — Above
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Eva Wünsch (New Talent Advertising Category Winner): Z-Bau Summer Garden Poster Series, (Copyright © Eva Wünsch)
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Stav Assis (New Talent Design, Product & Packaging Category Winner): Fetch! (Copyright © Stav Assis)

An illustration of a long, brown dachshund running across a pink background. Bold text above the dog reads “FETCH!” and a black banner below reads “SAFETY MATCHES”. — Above
Stav Assis (New Talent Design, Product & Packaging Category Winner): Fetch! (Copyright © Stav Assis)

An illustration of a winged figure curled in a fetal position on a black background. Above them, a jagged orange horizon line sits below a grid of white outlined rectangles and a single beam of blue light. — Above
Kateryna Savchuk (New Talent Editorial Category Winner): My 2022 From The Shelter (Copyright © Kateryna Savchuk)

An illustration on a bright pink background shows a person lying on their back with their legs raised. They hold a magnifying glass to their pelvic area. Bold text at the top reads “They might get called lady gardens, but no fanny smells of roses.” Smaller text below provides advice on cervical cancer symptoms and the importance of visiting a GP. — Above
Harriet Noble (Professional Advertising Category Winner): Lady Garden Foundation, Give Your Fanny Five (Copyright © Harriet Noble)

An illustration of a luxury handbag and two vials labelled “Vaccine” displayed in a high-end shop window. The bag is navy blue with a pattern of syringes and virus particles, set against a large red virus shape. A price tag with three dollar signs hangs in the foreground, while two figures look on from below. — Above
Chiara Vercesi (Professional Science & Technology Category Winner): The Urgent Need to Improve Health Equity (Copyright © Chiara Vercesi)

An illustration of a person with long dark hair standing in a subway station, looking at a framed picture on a brick wall. The picture shows a city street with a small, stylised cat. In the foreground, two blurred figures pass by, one of whom looks at a phone. — Above
Chiu Ling Chen (Professional Book Covers Category Winner): Me and Me (Copyright © Chiu Ling Chen)

An illustration of a person asleep in bed, surrounded by crumpled tissues. Their bed transforms into a surreal underwater landscape filled with glowing blue waves and strange, organic sea creatures. — Above
Weston Wei (New Talent Science & Technology Category Winner): Sleeping With My Allergy (Copyright © Weston Wei)

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Further Info

theaoi.com/world-illustration-awards

About the Author

Liz Gorny

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Liz (she/they) is the senior editor at Insights, a research-driven department within It’s Nice That. They previously ran the news section of the website. Get in contact with them for potential Insights collaborations or to discuss Insights’ public-facing reports.

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