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.
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Meet the Big Shots! 2025 Golden Pinwheel Yearbook Release!
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: "Finding Inspiration in a Single Breath" — A Creative Storytelling Workshop
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutors:
Hu Yifan (China), Illustrator, Picture Book Maker
*Event in Chinese only
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: Bridging Fairy Tales: A Live Painting Tribute to H. C. Andersen
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutor:
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: The Illustrators Survival Guide: PortfolioPlay
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutors:
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Representing the Daily Life of Children
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
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
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 CornerThe Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: Telling Stories Through Faces: A Portraiture Workshop
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutor:
Alessandro Sanna (Italy), Illustrator, author
*Consecutive translation in Italian and Chinese
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】A Kaleidoscope of Ideas: The Art and Legacy of Leo Lionni
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione, Milan
Speaker:
Kiyoko Matsuoka (Japan), President, Itabashi Art Museum
*Simultaneous interpretation in English and Chinese
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Ask Me Anything: How To Make A Picture Book: From Idea To Publication
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
Tutor:
Franci Sanna (Switzerland), Freelance Illustrator, Children's Book Author
*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop:The Art of Chance - Monoprint Workshop
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutor:
Alexandra Mîrzac (Romania), Author, Illustrator
*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Ask Me Anything: Editorial Illustration-Beyond Illustrated Books
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】A Poetics of Detail: Mundane, Unusual, Humorous
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: Behind the Key Visual: Creating Together Your Own CCBF Poster
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutor:
Daniele Morganti (Italy), Freelance Illustrator, Art Director
*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】The Illustrator's Profession Today: Tried and True Tools in a Changing World
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Global Picture Book Lab: The Cross-Cultural Illustrator's Masterclass
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
Tutor:
Cathy Olmedillas (UK), Creative Founder, Anorak Magazine
*Consecutive translation in English and Chinese
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Incubating and Promoting Illustrator IP: How Niche Illustration Culture Goes Mainstream
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
【Masterclasses】Trends in the International Picture Book Market
The Illustrators Survival CornerModerator:
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
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Workshop: Create Your Own Ex Libris: Woodcut Printmaking Workshop with Hei Mi
The Illustrators Survival CornerTutor:
Hei Mi (China), Picture Book Maker, Illustrator, Printmaker
*Event in Chinese only