Gabriella Micciche and Michele Sclafani, LABASAD students, nominated for the World Illustration Awards 2025
Two students from the Online Master’s in Editorial and Advertising Illustration are recognised by one of the sector’s most prestigious competitions.
Illustration is a way of thinking about the world. A critical, narrative and visual tool that transforms ideas into images with resonant power. And when such talent is recognised internationally, so too are the effort, growth and commitment behind every stroke.
That’s why, at LABASAD, we proudly celebrate the nomination of Gabriella Micciche and Michele Sclafani — professional illustrators and students of the Online Master’s in Editorial and Advertising Illustration in Spanish — to the longlist of the World Illustration Awards (WIA) 2025. An achievement that not only highlights their individual work, but also positions them as distinctive and relevant voices within the contemporary illustration scene.
Organised by the prestigious Association of Illustrators (AOI) in collaboration with the Directory of Illustration (Di), the World Illustration Awards are one of the most influential accolades in the field. Their mission is clear: to celebrate creativity and connect illustrators with peers, the international industry, and new professional opportunities.
The AOI has been organising juried competitions recognising excellence in illustration since 1976. In its current format, the WIA has existed since 2015, and each edition is judged by an independent panel of 30 industry experts. The process culminates in a longlist of 500 projects, a shortlist of 200, and a final selection of winners and honourable mentions, in both the New Talent and Professional categories.
Being longlisted means being part of a global selection of projects that stand out for their impact, originality and technical quality. Above all, it offers outstanding visibility to key players in the editorial and creative industries.
Gabriella’s proposal, entitled “The uncertain revolution against obesity”, was born as her final master’s project. It stems from a text reflecting on the contemporary paradox of consumption: we live in a society that promotes excess while offering quick fixes to the problems that same system creates. “I wanted to use that contrast in my illustration, using elements like screens and a two-colour palette to create a visual tension that reinforces the message,” she explains.
With a direct and refined composition, Gabriella chose synthesis as a strategy for communicative clarity. The biggest challenge, she says, was to maintain the right balance between the conceptual and the visual:
“Sometimes we’re tempted to fill every space, but in this case, the challenge was to keep it simple and concise, without losing the ability to convey the message.”
Her inclusion in the WIA longlist represents, for her, “a great affirmation that my work is on the right path. For someone just starting in illustration, this kind of validation is valuable, not only professionally but also personally.”
Currently, Gabriella is finalising her portfolio and developing an illustrated story she hopes to publish as a fanzine or small graphic novel. From Stuttgart, Germany—where she resides—she is also actively involved in a local illustrators’ collective that fosters collaboration and visibility in the area. Her next steps include joining the AOI, expanding her professional network, and connecting with other talents selected in the longlist.
Michele’s nomination is for an editorial illustration created for Quanta Magazine, focused on the principles of quantum mechanics. An abstract topic he approached through visual metaphor, exploring reflections as a narrative device. “For years, I’ve been fascinated by reflections as settings where reality can split and where strange things can happen. In the metro, for instance, I love looking around through the reflections,” he admits.
His illustration combines railway inspiration—in reference to classic physics problems about frames of reference—with a dreamlike tone that invites contemplation and exploration. Rather than explaining, Michele wanted to evoke.
“I tried to speak about science from a poetic perspective, to suggest without explaining, to create a narrative tension within a static image. Finding that graphic balance was the biggest challenge.”
He developed the project while participating in an artist residency in Mexico, sharing the process with fellow illustrators whose work he deeply admires. The experience, he admits, was also an emotional challenge.
Recognition in the WIA gives momentum to a line of work he has named illustrated science, a personal and sensitive way of translating scientific language into evocative visual proposals. “I hope this recognition helps spread what I’ve been researching for years: a different way of approaching scientific illustration, which I prefer to call ‘illustrated science’,” he says.
He is currently working on his first personal editorial project, “a sort of illustrated glossary of quantum mechanics that places the human at the centre of the narrative. It’s a work in progress that evolves and changes, and serves as an illustration gym while I continue seeking new commissions.”
Both Gabriella and Michele agree on the key role LABASAD has played in their development as professional illustrators.
For Gabriella, the school was synonymous with support, rigour, and real opportunities:
“Thanks to the master’s I also took part in other competitions like the LAUS Awards. Although I wasn’t selected in that case, the experience helped me have all my material ready, which was crucial for submitting to the WIA.”
Michele especially highlights the preparation for the professional world:
“LABASAD gave me the confidence to know how to handle a commission professionally. From the first sketches to communicating with the art director and justifying the graphic proposals.”
Both share sincere advice for those currently taking the master’s or planning to do so. Gabriella emphasises the importance of perseverance, patience, and constant practice. She acknowledges that rejections are part of the process and encourages embracing them as a prelude to new opportunities. Michele, for his part, encourages living illustration as a space for research and play, without pressure or rush for immediate recognition. For him, the essential thing is to take the necessary time to find your own voice and enjoy the creative process.
Accolades such as the World Illustration Awards not only validate the work of those who receive them. They also inspire, provide visibility and forge connections that mark a before and after in many creative careers.
Gabriella and Michele have shown talent, sensitivity and a distinctive visual identity. At LABASAD, we celebrate this achievement with the certainty that it is only the beginning of a path full of exploration and valuable contributions to the world of illustration.
The future of illustration is written with authenticity, perseverance and vision. And Gabriella Micciche and Michele Sclafani, without doubt, already part of it.