The Illustrators Survival Corner

The Illustrators Survival Corner is a programme featuring interactive workshops and seminars exclusively designed for illustrators, picture book editors and anyone professionally interested in the fascinating world of illustrated children’s books.

The Illustrators Survival Corner is a programme featuring interactive workshops and seminars exclusively designed for illustrators, picture book editors and anyone professionally interested in the fascinating world of illustrated children’s books. It is also a place where novices and seasoned professionals of the visual communication world can share experiences, successes and concerns regarding the profession and the market.

Nov 14 2025
10:00 12:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Meet the Big Shots! 2025 Golden Pinwheel Yearbook Release!

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Ivan Canu (Italy), Illustrator, designer, Writer and Director, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Address Speaker:
Lu Xiaoxin (China), Editor-in-Chief, Shanghai Juvenile & Children's Publishing House

Speakers:
A Geng (China), Member of the Animation Arts Committee of the China Artists Association, Professor at Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication
Steven Guarnaccia (USA), Professor Emeritus, Parsons School of Design
Hei Mi (China), Picture Book Maker, Illustrator, Printmaker
Alexandra Mîrzac(Romania), Author, Illustrator
Daniele Morganti(Italy), Freelance Illustrator, Art Director

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Representing the Daily Life of Children

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Ivan Canu (Italy), Illustrator, designer, Writer and Director, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speaker:
Yoshitake Shinsuke(Japan), Picture Book Author, Illustrator

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

14:30 16:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

From Inspiration to Masterpiece: The Creative Journey of the Winning Authors of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award

Masterclasses
16:15 17:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

A Kaleidoscope of Ideas: The Art and Legacy of Leo Lionni

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speaker:
Kiyoko Matsuoka (Japan), President, Itabashi Art Museum

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

Nov 15 2025
10:00 11:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Ask Me Anything: How To Make A Picture Book: From Idea To Publication

masterclasses

Moderator:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speakers:
A Geng (China), Member of the Animation Arts Committee of the China Artists Association, Professor at Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication
Namjung Kim (Republic of Korea), President, Hankwon Publishing Company; Vice President, KBBY (IBBY Korea)
Leo Timmers (Belgium), Illustrator,Author
Nina Wehrle (Switzerland), Picture Book Maker

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Ask Me Anything: Editorial Illustration-Beyond Illustrated Books

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speakers:
Steven Guarnaccia (USA), Professor Emeritus, Parsons School of Design
Luca Lu (China), Illustrator
Sonia Pulido (Spain), Freelance Illustrator
Birthe Steinbeck (Germany), Art Director, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

14:30 15:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

A Poetics of Detail: Mundane, Unusual, Humorous

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Ivan Canu (Italy), Illustrator, designer,Writer and Director, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speakers:
Marianne Gretteberg Engedal (Norway), Illustrator
Max de Radigues (Belgium), Cartoonist, Professor, Editor

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

16:00 17:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

The Illustrator's Profession Today: Tried and True Tools in a Changing World

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Ivan Canu (Italy), Illustrator, designer,Writer and Director, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speakers:
Christian Inaraja Genís (Spain), Freelance Illustrator
Sonia Pulido (Spain), Freelance Illustrator
Xavi Ramiro (Spain), President of the Professional Illustrators Association of Catalonia (APIC), Freelance illustrator

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

Nov 16 2025
10:00 11:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Global Picture Book Lab: The Cross-Cultural Illustrator's Masterclass

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Solene Xie (China), Founder,Yanchang Literary Agency

Speakers:
Yara Bamieh (Palestine), Architect, Graphic Designer
Hu Yifan (China), Illustrator, Picture Book Maker
Taltal Levi (Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Author
Thea Lu (China), Picture Book Author, Illustrator
Qin Yujun (China), Freelance Illustrator
Maeva Rubli (Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Author
Franci Sanna (Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Children's Book Author
Bandana Tulachan (Nepal), Freelance Illustrator,Graphic Designer
Nina Wehrle (Switzerland), Picture Book Maker

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

11:30 12:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Incubating and Promoting Illustrator IP: How Niche Illustration Culture Goes Mainstream

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Qin Nan (China), Founder, Ananas Illustration; Publishing Consultant, CITIC Children’s Books

Speakers:
Walson (China), Travel Illustrator, Graphic Designer
Vikki Zhang (China), Illustrator, Founder of NIANYI

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Trends in the International Picture Book Market

Masterclasses

Moderator:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan

Speakers:
Elodie Bourgeois (Spain), Publisher, Editorial Juventud
Øyvind Torseter (Norway), Author, Illustrator
Representative of Jieli Publishing House

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese