Judging Panel
LILLA ROGERS STUDIO
LILLA ROGERS
FOUNDING ILLUSTRATION AGENT
Lilla Rogers is one of the most successful illustration agents in the industry, managing the careers of over 38 high-caliber artists whose works you’ve undoubtedly seen in children’s books, magazines, greeting cards, and on scads of deliciously designed goods from bed linens and tote bags to journals and wall art.
BLUE Q
MITCH NASH
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER
Mitch Nash founded Blue Q in Boston in 1988 with his brother, Seth. Their first item was the legendary Flat Cat, a six-dollar cardboard pet. It was soon joined by the perfect baby, Instant Infant. Since then the company’s made Dirty Girl soap, Instant Irish Accent Breath Spray, Maybe You Touched Your Genitals Hand Sanitizer, socks, oven mitts and well beyond. -If there’s fun gift-giving potential, Blue Q learns how to make it. And with an ever-evolving roster of designers, illustrators, and writers, to keep things fresh and diverse. Mitch and his New Product Development team have a free-wheeling, collaborative style with the artists they work with. Things get discovered jointly, quickly, sometimes messily, but always in a voice that’s irreverent and empowering. “Simplify truth and amplify lightness”, they say.
Blue Q is based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and employs sixty people.
UWP LUXE/ UP WITH PAPER
MONIKA BRANDRUP
VP, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Monika Brandrup is a leading creative expert of design for pop-up greeting cards, stationery and books. This year, she celebrates her 25th Anniversary at Up With Paper, “The original pop-up greeting card company”. She serves as the Strategic Chair for the Greeting Card Association’s LOUIE Awards and is a board member of The Movable Book Society. Up With Paper and UWP Luxe products are sold globally, so she attends many tradeshows to keep in tune with domestic and international stationery and gift market trends. She also directs custom product development for clients such as CPWM, Universal Studios, TJX, Paper Chase, Barnes & Noble, Harrods, Liberty, and more. The best part is that this allows her to work with illustrators and paper engineers in a variety of styles to satisfy these diverse global markets. Monika is truly passionate about mentoring artists and supporting a close relationship with her in-house design team. She is energized to work every day and considers herself to be very lucky to love what she does. Her passion shows in all of her products, which can be seen here: http://www.upwithpaper.com/ https://www.uwpluxe.com/
AMBER LOTUS
LYDIA HESS
ART DIRECTOR
Working with talented illustrators, photographers, and writers to create products that are clever, mindful, and stunning – that is what Lydia Hess does every day as an Art Director, designer and member of the product development team at Amber Lotus Publishing. Amber Lotus strives to consistently offer paper products that are unique, authentic, and distinctive for the mindful consumer. Their focus is creating uplifting wall calendars, planners, journals and greeting cards that nurture, renew, and expand the soul. In addition to her “day job”, Hess is also a seasoned independent illustrator, having completed Sacred Nature and four other books in the Coloring Books for the Soul series for HarperElixir, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing. Read more here: www.amberlotus.com
www.lydiahess.com
ALISON GREEN BOOKS (SCHOLASTIC UK)
ZOË TUCKER
ART DIRECTOR, DESIGNER, CO-TEACHER AT MAKE ART THAT SELLS
Zoë Tucker has worked in children’s book publishing for nearly two decades, starting with Random House, working across the list from baby books right up to Young Adult. Her books have won numerous awards and she has worked with Penguin UK (Puffin Imprint), and Scholastic UK (Alison Green imprint).
In the last decade, Zoë has worked closely with award-winning publisher Alison Green to deliver some of the best-loved children’s books on the market, from some of the most talented illustrators working today. Zoë also works as a freelance art director and consultant.
TANTAU STUDIO
MARGO TANTAU
OWNER, ART DIRECTOR, CO-TEACHER AT MAKE ART THAT SELLS
Margo blends a passion for art, design and the people who create it, with an understanding of specialty retailing, manufacturing, and the challenges of being an independent artist. Margo’s love of possibility enabled her to turn the success of her unique retail store, Tantau, into a sought-after wholesale business. This favorite venture represented unique small artists nationally and internationally, and specialized in product that would differentiate any retailer. She grew her manufacturing knowledge as Creative Director of Seasonal Gift and Home Decor Company, Midwest of Cannon Falls/CBK, Creative and Design lead on product divisions at Hallmark as well as Madison Park Group in Seattle. Margo has always kept one foot in her own studio as well. Margo co-teaches “Creating Collections for Home Décor” with Lilla, is also a regular judge on the Global Talent Search, and has worked with past winners to create entire home and gift collections which are now sold across the US. Honing in on her street-smarts and passion for artists, product, uniqueness, and connecting, Margo is now back to forging her own path with Tantau Studio, and is madly enjoying the challenge. Margo has been described as “Fairy Good-Mother to Artists Everywhere” … and she loves to live into that personality. It is this passion that guides her creative spirit.
TENEUES PUBLISHING
MAUREEN GALLAGHER
STATIONERY SALES & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Maureen Gallagher has been making things practically from birth! While projects may have changed since she was 3+ years of age, her passion for discovery and creative expression has not. Maureen is a graduate of Parsons School of Design in NYC with a degree in Product Design. After fulfilling freelance creative assignments in New York City, she landed a position at teNeues Publishing where she is lucky enough to work with inspiring artists and creatives full-time. She realizes her vision by conceiving of and developing stationery for all ages. Each teNeues collection features art that reflects imagination, beauty, warmth and joy – resulting in products that are accessible and useful so that each and every customer stays connected to family and friends alike.
AMERICAN GIRL & MATTEL
RILEY WILKINSON
MANAGER OF CONTENT CREATIVE
Riley is a child pretending to be a grownup! He considers himself a lucky guy, leading content visual development at American Girl, a premium Mattel brand for girls based near Madison, Wisconsin. Riley and his team of creatives design and art direct fiction and nonfiction print titles for girls. Apps, magazine features, and online games are also part of the American Girl offering that tie beloved historical and contemporary characters to rich experiences. Riley’s 20 years in the educational toy and game space include the creation and design of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti by Educational Insights. His early memories of glitter, scotch tape, and “crowns” (crayons) keep him forever obsessed with play and all the joys that his work brings to children and adults who never grew up.
UPPERCASE MAGAZINE
JANINE VANGOOL
PUBLISHER/EDITOR/DESIGNER
Janine Vangool is the publisher, editor and designer of UPPERCASE, a quarterly print magazine for the creative and curious. UPPERCASE publishes content inspired by design, typography, illustration and craft. Her magazine and books celebrate the process of making, the commitment to craft and the art of living creatively. Janine got her start working as a freelance graphic designer for arts and culture clients and has also taught typography and publication design at the college level. She has been a shop owner and bookseller, gallery curator, sold a line of greeting cards wholesale, made 10,000 books by hand (with lots of help!) and has sewn her own products for retail. She has a particular fondness for typewriters, a passion that has inspired a book about their graphic history. She has designed two fabric collections with Windham Fabrics. She is often asked, “Do you ever sleep?” To which she replies, “Yes! By the end of the day I’m exhausted!” She lives in Calgary, Canada with her boardgame-designing husband and curious son.
DESIGN HOUSE GREETINGS
CECI BUTLER
PRESIDENT
As owner and creative director of Design House Greetings, I aspire to live life one day at a time, bake homemade cookies weekly, play with my dogs, tell everyone who is important in my life that I love them, and exercise every day.
In reality, I never can remember to take my vitamins, have had to learn to be a part-time entrepreneur & executive – I can now read a balance sheet, P&L and have figured out how to run enough of an HR department to get by! As well as being a full-time art director and part-time graphic designer, mother hen, and occasional pallet packer.
But despite all that, I love what I do, and feel so fortunate to work with an incredible team at DHG. Together we collaborate with talented artists, and their agents to create hundreds of beautiful greeting cards each year. Nothing makes me smile more than hearing that one of our cards brought a little more happiness to someone’s day!
BREWSTER HOME FASHIONS
JULIE PHILIBERT
SENIOR DESIGN STYLIST
Ruby red shag carpet, chrome arc lamp and Kliban cat bedding – Julie’s parents let her design her dream bedroom back in the 70’s. Today Julie is styling wallpaper collections for Brewster Home Fashions and sharing her visions for home design on a grander scale. After 27 years in the wallpaper design business, she still gets a rush from working with factories and watching the colossal production presses spin off the rolls and rolls of delightful designs. For fun, she and her husband like to explore the quiet waters of New England in their kayaks.
BROWN PAPER BAG BLOG
SARA BARNES
CREATOR, FREELANCE WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR
Sara Barnes is a writer and illustrator specializing in art and crafts. Most of her days are happily spent as a staff writer and editor for My Modern Met and sharing embroidery and illustration finds on Brown Paper Bag. Some of her most recent work is on the cover of Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic.
SCHOLASTIC INC.
PATTI ANN HARRIS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Patti Ann Harris, Creative Director at Scholastic Inc., oversees the art and design for Orchard Books and the Cartwheel Books imprints. With more than twenty years experience designing children’s books, she has worked on many award-winning titles spanning a wide variety of formats, including novelty and interactive books for preschoolers and Caldecott Award–winning picture books. Patti Ann enjoys mentoring newcomers to the field as much as working with renowned illustrators and authors.
JAMES YANG ILLUSTRATION
JAMES YANG
ILLUSTRATOR
Quarry Books, Rockport Publishers (Quarto)
MARY ANN HALL
Editorial Director
Mary Ann is the editorial director for Quarry Books and Rockport Publishers, overseeing the development of 60-70 titles a year on a wide array of subjects including visual art, crafts, design, artisanal food and lifestyle topics. She has developed such cornerstone series as 20 Ways to Draw, Lab and Lab for Kids books, and The Urban Sketching Handbook, and has many more in the works. She thrives on exploring new ideas, rediscovering past wisdom, cultivating talent, and collaborating with creative partners.
Currently based in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Mary Ann is a woods-loving urbanite, fervent cook, haphazard gardener, dedicated mom, occasional rule bender and aspiring adventurer.
NOSY CROW
RACHEL KELLEHAR
SENIOR COMMISSIONING EDITOR
Following a degree in visual arts and French, Rachel Kellehar started her career in publishing by spending three years working as the staff writer and reviews editor for Rock Sound, an independent rock music magazine. Several years later, having worked across children’s fiction and non-fiction at Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury and Macmillan Children’s Books, she is thrilled to be working for another innovative, independent publisher – Nosy Crow – taking on the stewardship of their fantastic non-fiction and activity list.
HACHETTE BOOK GROUP
AMANDA RICHMOND
SENIOR DESIGNER
Amanda Richmond is a Senior Designer at Running Press Book Publishers, part of the Hachette Book Group.
Amanda comes from a family of writers and artists and has always judged books by their covers despite being told not to.
An inveterate reader she loves all the free books she gets from working in publishing. Over the years she has designed all types of books from cookbooks and memoirs, humor and craft, travel and beauty, and more cookbooks.
When she’s not designing, Amanda enjoys traveling, cooking, and taking long walks in Philly with her dog Rosie.
CLOTHWORKS
CANDICE HOFFMAN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Candice enjoys looking at pretty things all day with a very talented Seattle creative team. Since childhood, she has always loved hand stitchery and searching for beautiful fabric – whether it’s to create a unique garment or costume or for a special home décor or bedding project. As co-owner of Clothworks, she loves to look at new art, carefully selecting designers who bring a fresh and often whimsical perspective to quilting cotton. Candice’s current favorite adventure is the company’s foray into baby bedding with the launch of their American Made Brand.
ROGER LA BORDE
JENNI BARNETT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jenni Barnett is the Creative Director of Roger la Borde, the London-based boutique stationery company she co-founded in 1985 with her sister Alison. Roger la Borde collaborates with artists and illustrators from all over the world to fulfil their mission of designing, discovering and publishing incredible things on paper and beyond.
GALISON MUDPUPPY
SUSANNA KO
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Susanna is currently the Creative Director at Galison Mudpuppy. Galison Mudpuppy creates award-winning gifts, puzzles, games, stationery and accessories for ages 1-101. Susanna and her team collaborate with artists and designers to bring art into the everyday and engage imaginations of all ages.
Susanna developed her interest in multidisciplinary design at Parsons School of Design. She has taught typography and branding at the college level. With a lifelong passion for all aspects of design, she grew her understanding of the design industries with a second degree in Fashion Business Management at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Susanna’s product development career began at Martha Stewart Omnimedia. Initially art directing all aspects of brand creative and special product development projects, she evolved to become a design director in the product development group. Susanna design directed the launch of the Martha Stewart Crafts collection and its implementation for specific retailers. She developed stationery collections for Crane and Co., as well as digital platforms for embroidery and personalized stationery programs. Susanna was also the founding Creative Director of Product Development for Bloom Stationers, a digital platform for customizable stationery products.
HARPERCOLLINS
TAMAR MAYS
SENIOR EDITOR
Tamar Mays joined HarperCollins in 2005 as a Senior Editor. She has been a bookseller, a children’s book buyer, and the manager of Scholastic’s Lucky School Book Club. As an editor Tamar gets to work on all sorts of stories from birth (board books) to third grade. She runs the I Can Read program, working with Jane O’Connor, Victoria Kann, Rob Scotton, Ree Drummond, and the estates of Syd Hoff, Russ Hoban, and Arnold Lobel. Tamar also edits the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out science series and has worked with illustrators Andre Ceolin, Mike Lowery, Maddie Frost, Taia Morley, Nila Aye, Violet LeMay and Anna Chernyshova. Tamar has a strong affinity for illustrated work and loves acquiring picture books with humor and warmth. Upcoming picture books include Lots of Cats, by debut author-illustrator E. Dee Taylor, and I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home, illustrated by Kristyna Litten. She would love to have more author-illustrator submissions as well as more work from diverse voices. She is also interested in novelty book ideas—perhaps an intriguing tackle on a look-and-find, for example.
PAN MACMILLAN
ELLA BUTLER
HEAD OF CAMPBELL BOOKS
Ella Butler has worked in Children’s Pre-School and novelty Publishing for nearly 20 years. After Graduating from Winchester School of Art with a BA Hons in Fine Art Painting, Ella moved into the world of Children’s Publishing by chance. Initially starting in Children’s reference publishing, it was after a move into Pre-School publishing that she fell in love with Children’s Books. Since then Ella has gone from Junior Designer to Art Director and is now working as Head of Campbell Books, the Pre-School imprint for Macmillan Children’s Books, where she has worked for over 14 years. Ella led the very successful re-brand for Campbell in 2014, creating a brand new logo and a bank of assets which Campbell now use to create each book cover branding. Ella loves bright, child-friendly illustrations, with a twist of the stylish and a dash of quirk.
SEATTLE CHOCOLATE COMPANY
KIRSTY ELLISON
VP MARKETING
Kirsty is the Vice President of Marketing at Seattle Chocolate Company, a woman-owned, premium chocolate company known for its award-winning packaging. Believing that products should be equally beautiful on the inside and outside, Kirsty and team collaborate with artists to create unique designs for their gift boxes and chocolate bars. Each bar is a work of art, literally.
Kirsty has been working with artists and creative agencies for more than 25 years on both agency and brand side. Prior to Seattle Chocolates, she worked at Microsoft and BBDO in L.A. and Sand Francisco. Born in New Zealand, Kirsty is curious and celebrates art in all forms, finding inspiration through travel and experiences. A native New Zealander, Kirsty resides in Seattle with her husband youngest daughter, a horse and three cats.
3x3, The Magazine of Contemporary Illustration
CHARLES HIVELY
Publisher
BIO COMING SOON!
CRATE AND BARREL
BONNIE CAUBLE
BIO COMING SOON!
