The Dutch Uncle Journal is a considered study of illustration, design, and animation in practice — how they are conceived, commissioned, and realised in the wider world.
This is where we share the thinking behind our latest projects and engage with the wider shifts shaping visual culture — from the resurgence of handmade texture to the ways art redefines the spaces we inhabit. A considered collection of work and ideas from the front line of contemporary illustration.
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Brian Rea / Noma Bar / Satoshi Hashimoto / Javi Aznarez / Debora Szpilman / Simone Massoni / Ping Zhu / Klaus Kremmerz / Lucas Varela / Charlotte Trounce / Marc Majewski / Kustaa Saksi / Alessandro Gottardo (SHOUT) / YOCO / Hsiao-Ron Cheng / Jisu Choi / Graham Roumieu / Tavis Coburn / Joel Holland / Robert Nicol (MA RCA) / Clara Dupré / Marc Burckhardt / Aesthetic Apparatus / Jon Gray (Gray318) / Christian Montenegro / LAPRISAMATA / Gaku Nakagawa / Adam McCauley
Why Regular Illustration Commissions Matter: Javi Aznarez x Mengya Magazine
Beyond the hunt for one-off commissions, Javi Aznarez’s monthly covers for Mengya Magazine demonstrate the power of the "visual column." Entering 2026, this partnership proves that repetition builds more than just a portfolio—it fosters the trust, speed, and creative freedom necessary to transform a magazine cover into a definitive cultural landmark.
Life at Auriens Chelsea as Illustrated by Satoshi Hashimoto
Satoshi Hashimoto created a warm, retro-inspired illustration campaign for Auriens Chelsea, commissioned by Politt Partners. Moving away from traditional luxury visuals, the work uses characterful linework and gentle humour to depict independent later living, highlighting community, vitality, and everyday moments with clarity and emotional resonance.
Lucas Varela : The Art of Polite Chaos in the FT
Lucas Varela creates editorial illustrations for Financial Times, accompanying Robert Shrimsley’s advice column. His work transforms everyday dilemmas into subtle, composed visuals, using quiet humour and minimal detail to reflect moments of tension, decision-making, and human behaviour alongside the column’s dry, observational tone.
Illustration and Animation in Health Insurance: How Klaus Kremmerz Illustrates Clear Communication for KOTA
Klaus Kremmerz collaborates with KOTA to create illustration and animation systems that simplify complex health insurance and benefits information. Using clear, human visuals and structured design, the project demonstrates how illustration improves user understanding, making pensions, coverage, and pricing more accessible across digital platforms.
David Benioff : Book cover illustrations by SHOUT
Alessandro Gottardo, known as SHOUT, creates cohesive cover illustrations for David Benioff titles published by Penguin Random House. Designed under the direction of Paul Buckley, the covers establish a consistent visual identity across the author’s catalogue, linking separate works through a unified, structured design approach.
Klaus Kremmerz Breathes New Life into French Cinema Classics in The Metrograph Magazine
Klaus Kremmerz creates evocative illustrations for Metrograph Magazine, reinterpreting classic French films such as L'Atalante and Hôtel du Nord. Designed by Matt Willey at Pentagram, the issue combines illustration and editorial design to revive the mood and storytelling of 1930s–40s cinema for contemporary audiences.
Musée d’Orsay x Kiblind Atelier: Past Masters, Contemporary Illustration Voices
Musée d’Orsay collaborates with Kiblind Atelier on a risograph poster series reinterpreting classic artworks. Featuring illustrators including Jisu Choi, the project bridges historical painting and contemporary illustration, creating tactile prints that explore how visual language evolves across time.
Robert Nicol illustrations: Capturing the Invisible World of Maritime Life
Robert Nicol creates powerful editorial illustrations for Common Good Magazine, depicting the MV Dali disaster and the realities of maritime life. His atmospheric visuals highlight isolation, risk, and human resilience, using light, shadow, and composition to bring emotional depth to overlooked industries and the people within them.
