Worldwide Illustration Celebrated With EFX Awards

The World Illustration Awards is a year-long celebration and showcase of illustration, bringing together creatives, industry, commissioners, and art directors celebrating great illustration on a scale like never before! The Awards were held by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the Directory of Illustration. They have been holding an annual illustration competition for 50 years, as the world’s leading illustration body, supporting and sustaining illustrators and the illustration industry for all of those years.

Established in 1973 the AOI offers members from around the world professional support, online resources as well as holding meet ups, webinars and events throughout the UK. They have successfully campaigned to increase the standing of illustration as a profession and improve commercial and ethical conditions. With a membership that includes freelance illustrators, agents, students and colleges, the AOI continues to support and educate future generations at every stage of their career. Which we at EFX are also incredibly proud to support with our awards.

After the online event took place, AOI CEO Rachel Hill Said: “We are delighted to announce the winners of the highly anticipated World Illustration Awards 2023. This year’s entrants demonstrated a remarkable level of creativity and skill, making shortlisting a challenging task. Our 2023 winners have truly mastered their crafts, skilfully utilising illustration to explore narratives, evoke emotions, and express complex ideas. 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.” 

2023’s winners included 20 Category Winners, 20 Highly Commended projects, four Cross-Category Award Winners, and two Overall Winners, who received cash prizes as well as beautiful bespoke trophies for their achievements.

They were announced on 12^th September 2023 at an online Awards Ceremony, presented by renowned illustrator Emily Garrett and a host of special guest presenters. Award categories included Advertising, Editorial, Children’s Publishing, and Design, Product & Packaging. A shortlist of 200 projects were announced online, selected from over 5000 entries from 84 countries. The awards were sent out after the winners were announced, to maximise the excitement and surprise element of who won.

Art Celebrating Art

These acrylic awards had to be their own works of art. So the clear acrylic blocks were digitally printed on the front and back to create another dimension to the awards, which winner’s happily display on their shelves. “The winners always comment on how beautiful the acrylic trophies look… They take pride of place on the artists’ shelves.”

A spokesperson for the event had this to say about their experience with EFX over the years – “It is always a delight to deal with EFX. Communication is friendly and efficient. Enquiries are answered promptly and professionally. When we had a question about the latest trophies, with a dissolving gradient on transparent, we were sent some sample prints to ensure the final items were perfect. Which they were!”

See more of the winners and their artwork here