NEW MATTER

Five Years of Future Makers!

In 2020 we launched the first iteration of what would become Future Makers – our annual development programme for illustrators in the early stages of their careers, belonging to underrepresented communities. Now as we enter our 5th year of the programme, we've been looking back at the successes and learnings of the ride so far.

We've had the priviledge of reviewing over 500 diverse and exciting portfolios submitted by emerging artists. 

Over the last 4 years we've got to know 12 wonderful up-and-coming artists as part of the programme, working together closely to develop their practice, and provide support and guidance.  

We have collaborated with those artists on 12 individual artist development projects, tailored to their practice and interests (including a feature in Its Nice That for David Huang's 'The Aisle'!)

And we've connected Future Makers artists with a range of clients across multiple industries to work together on projects, supporting them along the way. Including Hermès, POLITICO, National Geographic and LUSH to name a few. 


Most recently, we’ve been enjoying getting to know our three current Future Makers; Jakov Jakovjlevic, Joanna Blémont, and Laina Deene, and have been lucky to have the opportunity to work on some brilliant commissions with each of them over the course of our time together so far. Find out more about some of them below.

Joanna Blémont for The New Yorker
Edinburgh-based watercolour artist and illustrator Joanna was commissioned by The New Yorker to depict an atmospheric scene to feature alongside one of Yukio Mishima's short fiction stories “From the Wilderness” for The New Yorker. Her atmospheric watercolours capture the eerie essence of the story in a way that really fits perfectly with the narrative.

The programme provides a much-needed sense of structure, which can be difficult to establish when self-employed. It’s a chance to ask questions and figure out how to bridge the gap between making illustrations and finding their function.

– Joanna Blémont 

Laina Deene for Lush
Brighton-based Laina was commissioned, along with a few of the other GM artists, to illustrate a poem for The Poetry Business School – which has come together through the collaboration of cosmetic brand Lush and The Poetry Pharmacy. The book aims to present an inspirational, practical and creative pathway for how to do life and business better.

Lush has always been a dream client of mine, and I’ve always loved their visual identity, so I was so pleased to illustrate a poem in their beautiful Poetry Business Book.

– Laina Deene

Jakov Jakovjlevic for Politico
Serbian illustrator Jakov was tasked by Politico to illustrate a series of four articles exploring the future of the Olympics and how politics will always be involved with the event.

Most of my illustrations are created in a sort of a gestative vacuum, so it has been really refreshing and rewarding to be able to have an open and ever-evolving conversation about the work I put out.

– Jakov Jakovljević

Find out more about Future Makers and this our current cohort on the links below, and keep your eyes peeled in June for annoucements about this year's applicants and the new cohort! 

www.grandmatter.com/futuremakers
www.grandmatter.com/jakovjakovljevic
www.grandmatter.com/joannablemont
www.grandmatter.com/lainadeene

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