The Association of Illustrators (AOI), in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, has officially revealed the winners of the World Illustration Awards 2025 (WIA). This year’s edition received an impressive 4,700 entries from 85 countries, with an independent jury selecting 200 finalists and awarding 20 Category Winners, 20 Highly Commended projects, four Cross-Category Awards, and two Overall Winners.

The online ceremony, held on 16 September 2025, celebrated the very best in contemporary illustration, spanning advertising, animation, books, children’s publishing, design, editorial, exploration, publishing, site-specific projects, and science & technology.

The Overall New Talent Winner was Léane Ruggli with Ready To Drink Cocktail Cans, a playful design that transformed everyday packaging into an artistic invitation to connect. The Overall Professional Winner was Chu-Chieh Lee with Minus Plus Multiply, a beautifully animated exploration of balance and human ties.

New Talent Advertising, Cheuk Lam Siu — The Sound of Cinema

Professional Advertising, Raafaye Ali Sheikh — Gaza Cola: The Taste of Freedom

New Talent Animation, Ti Xu — Snow Bird

Professional Animation, Chu-Chieh Lee — Minus Plus Multiply

New Talent Book Covers, Jae Kwak — Puddle Jumpers

Professional Book Covers, Jennifer Dionisio — Vintage Classics: The Talented Mr Ripley

New Talent Children’s Publishing, Ping An Shih — Tai Chi

Professional Children’s Publishing, Camila Carrossine — The Girl, the Ghost and the Beetroot Forest

New Talent Design, Product & Packaging, Léane Ruggli — Ready To Drink Cocktail Cans

Professional Design, Product & Packaging, Eija Vehviainen — Packaging for Valio Grandi Juices

AOI CEO Rachel Hill remarked: “This year’s entries highlight the power of illustration to help us explore and understand the world around us. Artists tackled themes like human connection, the celebration of diversity and inclusion, and the growing impact of AI on our daily lives.”

Editorial, Lisa Sheehan — The Ozempic Effect

New Talent Editorial, Owolawi Kehinde — These Were Nigeria’s Brightest Teenagers

New Talent Exploration, Guess Who Studio — Cinema Escape

Professional Exploration, Genre Sun — Bridging Two Worlds

New Talent Publishing, Aya Niv — How To Stop Hating Men

Professional Publishing, Büro Wünsch & Stömer — Schwellenangst

New Talent Site-Specific, Ren Kyles — Pride Mural

Professional Site-Specific, Priscilla Tey — It Takes A Village

New Talent Science & Technology, Zen2001 — Shimmering Lake

Professional Science & Technology, Lynn Hatzius — Psychology Textbook

Altogether, the WIA 2025 awards highlight how illustration continues to shape culture, communication, and connection across industries. The winning projects are now live on the WIA website, featuring artwork, interviews, and insights from the global illustration community.

Looking forward, the next edition of the World Illustration Awards will open for submissions in December 2025, inviting illustrators worldwide to showcase their vision and creativity.