Designers in Seoul
Designers in Tokyo
Designers in Taipei
Column Four
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Poland
Zofia
Dzierzawska-Bojanowska
Design
Comics
Bio
Zosia Dzierżawska is an illustrator & comic author from Warsaw, Poland, and a co-founder of Studio Armad’illo, an illustration and graphic design studio based in Milan. She works for a variety of international publishers, using her soft, expressive lines in children’s books, comics and editorial illustration.
Previous collaborations include Oxford University Press, Rizzoli, Candlewick Press, and others. Her works have been awarded twice at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition, as well as at the Society of Illustrators in New York.
She loves getting her hands dirty with inks, watercolors, greasy pencils, and other traditional media.
Clients
Nobrow, Candlewick Press, I'm Changing, Oxford University Press, The Chopin Museum, The New York Times
Awards
Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrator's Exhibition (twice),
Society of Illustrators New York Annual (twice),
Sydney Taylor Book Award (US),
Children's Literature Festival (PL)
More Speakers and Mentors
Bartlomiej
Witanski
I have the impression that design culture in Poland has been changing in a good way over the last few years. Increasingly, clients see value in what we do and appreciate it. Of course, there will also be people who do not fully value our work, in which case it is better to let such a project go.
Te Ming
Wang
Taiwan's design culture integrates influences from diverse cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, Western, and indigenous elements, creating a unique and multifaceted style. Additionally, Taiwanese designers emphasize refinement and intricacy, often incorporating local cultural elements such as temple fairs, calligraphy, and traditional crafts into their designs, highlighting cultural heritage. The design industry in Taiwan is closely linked with the technology sector, demonstrating competitiveness in UI/UX design and smart product design. These characteristics may not be fully understood or recognized internationally. Furthermore, Taiwanese design is often influenced by social and political contexts, reflecting concerns about issues such as the environment and local identity.
Oksana
Shmygol
While the most known and celebrated inspirations from the Polish graphic design history is the 1950-80s Polish School of Posters, there is also a less known history of great logo design and typography, which we only started discovering recently. Nowadays Poland has amazing and internationally renowned designers in different fields - illustration, branding, typography and more. The community of professionals - individual designers and studios - is strong and friendly, we learn from each other and give each other advice, but also consciously build market standards together.
Ksawery
Komputery
Poland's design culture is deeply rooted in its rich history and traditions, blending modern aesthetics with folk art. One aspect that people from other countries might not know is the strong influence of Polish Poster Art, which emerged in the mid-20th century and is characterized by its unique combination of simplicity, bold colors, and surreal elements. Additionally, Polish designers often draw inspiration from the country's turbulent history and diverse architecture, creating works that are both innovative and reflective of Poland's cultural heritage.