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

【Masterclasses】Meet the Big Shots! 2025 Golden Pinwheel Yearbook Release!

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

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

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

10:00 11:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Cristina Pase (Australia), Managing Editor, Windy Hollow Books
Sergei Petrov (Russia), Chief Editor, Albus Corvus
Zoe Zhao (China), Chief Editor of Original Children's Book, Hsin-Yi Picture Books

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

10:30 12:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: "Finding Inspiration in a Single Breath" — A Creative Storytelling Workshop

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutors:
Hu Yifan (China), Illustrator, Picture Book Maker

*Event in Chinese only

11:45 13:15

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers: 
Marianne Gretteberg Engedal (Norway), Illustrator
Liu Zhongbo (China) , Director of Social Science Book Branch and Specialized Textbook Branch, China Light Industry Press Ltd.; General Consultant for the "Illustration+" Series of Books
Felicia Low (Singapore), Publisher & Writer, Difference Engine

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

12:10 12:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: Bridging Fairy Tales: A Live Painting Tribute to H. C. Andersen

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

Guests:
Fumi Aizawa (Japan), Illustrator
Hei Mi (China), Picture Book Maker, Illustrator, Printmaker
Alexandra Mîrzac (Romania), Author, Illustrator
Daniele Morganti (Italy), Freelance Illustrator, Art Director
Li Min (China), Senior Editor, Visual Centre of China Daily
Xavi Ramiro (Spain), President of the Professional Illustrators Association of Catalonia (APIC), Freelance illustrator
Christian Inaraja Genís (Spain), Freelance Illustrator
Sonia Pulido (Spain), Freelance Illustrator
Max de Radigues (Belgium), Cartoonist, Professor, Editor
Full Team of Masterclass for Children's Book Illustrators Supported by Swiss Arts Concil
Full Team of Go! Illustrators

*Event in English only

13:00 14:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: The Illustrators Survival Guide: PortfolioPlay

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutors:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan
Fumi Aizawa (Japan), Illustrator
Elisa Carareto Alves (Brazil), Illustrator

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

【Masterclasses】Representing the Daily Life of Children

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

13:30 15:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Claire Low (Singapore), Design Lead, Difference Engine
Cathy Olmedillas (UK), Creative Founder, Anorak Magazine
Li Min (China), Editor, Senior Editor, Visual Centre of China Daily

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

14:30 16:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

The Illustrators Survival Corner
15:00 16:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: Telling Stories Through Faces: A Portraiture Workshop

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Alessandro Sanna (Italy), Illustrator, author

*Consecutive translation in Italian and Chinese

15:15 16:45

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Thea Lu (China), Picture Book Author, Illustrator
Birthe Steinbeck (Germany), Art Director, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin
Nina Wehrle (Switzerland), Picture Book Maker

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

16:15 17:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

【Masterclasses】A Kaleidoscope of Ideas: The Art and Legacy of Leo Lionni

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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 11:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Elisa Carareto Alves (Brazil), Illustrator
Daniele Morganti(Italy), Freelance Illustrator, Art Director
Zhou Xiang (China), Artist, Co-founders of Oriental Babies & Kids,Senior Picture Book Editor

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

10:00 11:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

10:30 12:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: A Map of Me

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Franci Sanna (Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Children's Book Author

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

11:45 13:15

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Øyvind Torseter (Norway), Author, Illustrator
Maeva Rubli(Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Author
Solene Xie (China), Founder, Yanchang Literary Agency

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop:The Art of Chance - Monoprint Workshop

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Alexandra Mîrzac (Romania), Author, Illustrator

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

【Masterclasses】Ask Me Anything: Editorial Illustration-Beyond Illustrated Books

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

13:30 15:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Alexandra Mîrzac(Romania), Author, Illustrator
Qin Nan (China), Founder, Ananas Illustration; Publishing Consultant, CITIC Children's Books
Naoko Takano (Japan), Editor; Vice President, JBBY

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

14:30 15:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

【Masterclasses】A Poetics of Detail: Mundane, Unusual, Humorous

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

15:00 16:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: Behind the Key Visual: Creating Together Your Own CCBF Poster

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Daniele Morganti (Italy), Freelance Illustrator, Art Director

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

15:15 16:45

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Fumi Aizawa (Japan), Illustrator
Fei Jia (China), Former Senior Artistic Editor, Shanghai Juvenile and Chidlren's Publishing House
Benedetta Tosi (Italy), Publishing Director, Nomos Bambini

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

16:00 17:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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 11:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Reviewers:
Xiong Zhi (China), Editor, Juvenile & Children's Publishing House
Zhang Xiaoqing (China), Director of the Picture Book Editorial Office
Zhou Xiaozhou (China), Chief Editor, Children’s Book Department, Postwave Publishing

*Event in Chinese only

10:00 11:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

10:00 12:00

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: One Story, One Image.

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Cathy Olmedillas (UK), Creative Founder, Anorak Magazine

*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese

11:30 12:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

【Masterclasses】Trends in the International Picture Book Market

The Illustrators Survival Corner

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

Speakers:
Elodie Bourgeois (Spain), Publisher, Editorial Juventud
Tian Yu (China), Author, Illustrator
Øyvind Torseter (Norway), Author, Illustrator
Yan Liying (China), Senior Editor, Jieli Publishing House Co., Ltd

*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese

13:00 14:30

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Workshop: Create Your Own Ex Libris: Woodcut Printmaking Workshop with Hei Mi

The Illustrators Survival Corner

Tutor:
Hei Mi (China), Picture Book Maker, Illustrator, Printmaker

*Event in Chinese only