Designers in Seoul
Designers in Tokyo
Designers in Taipei
Column Four

Comics
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.
Nobrow, Candlewick Press, I'm Changing, Oxford University Press, The Chopin Museum, The New York Times
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)

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.

In the world of graphic design Poland is known for Polish School of Posters active in 1950s-1980s with expressive solutions based mainly on illustration. In the last years we finally started discovering the unknown heritage in logo design and typography with great masters such as Karol Śliwka, Ryszard Bojar and many more.

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.

In Poland after World War II, many designers were active in creating graphic symbols. Due to specific political conditions, these projects could be much more free and artistic than in the West. Besides the Polish poster, it is the graphic symbol that is particularly noteworthy when it comes to design in Poland.