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
Hand Drawn Illustration: Why Rob Nicol is a Refreshing Antidote to "Gray Goo" Illustration
Discover why Robert Nicol’s hand-drawn illustration is the definitive antidote to 'grey goo' design. Explore the 2026 resurgence of the human crafted touch in editorial illustration, highlighting Nicol’s 'wonky' aesthetic and RCA-trained expertise.
Drawing the Line: What the $1.5 B Anthropic Case Means for Illustrators, AI, and Copyright
The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement marks a turning point for AI and copyright, confirming that creative work cannot be used to train models without consent. For illustrators and visual artists, it reinforces intellectual property rights, pushes for transparency in AI training, and signals growing legal accountability across the generative AI industry.
The case sets a precedent for fair compensation and ethical collaboration between technology and creativity.
Joel Holland — NYC Street Vendors published by Prestel
Joel Holland’s NYC Street Vendors (Prestel) frames the city’s curbside economy as essential infrastructure. Mapping over 150 mobile businesses across all five boroughs, this "visual love letter" proves that illustration is the ultimate tool for capturing the grit and humanity of the rolling kitchens that feed and shape the cultural fabric of New York.
Marc Burckhardt : Album Art for Mitski’s 8th Studio Album
In the age of digital sheen, Marc Burckhardt’s tactile painting for Mitski’s 8th album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me, reclaims the power of the physical. Released February 2026, this collaboration proves that handmade artistry is the ultimate infrastructure for global icons—transforming vinyl, CD, and cassette into visceral, collectible landmarks of modern music.
Klaus Kremmerz: Illustrating the Art-World Novel —Six Books Selected by Fiona Duncan
A Novel Approach (Gagosian) defines the 2026 trend for "Literary Illustration." Pairing Fiona Duncan’s critique with Klaus Kremmerz’s art, this collaboration proves that illustration is the ultimate tool for reimagining our relationship with art history, power, and the creative ego.
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.
Simone Massoni x Criterion Collection : Trouble In Paradise
Simone Massoni’s cover for Trouble in Paradise proves that film packaging is a design problem worth solving. Arriving in a sharp season of Criterion releases, Massoni’s art captures the film’s Lubitsch elegance, reminding us that a masterfully illustrated sleeve defines a cinematic era long before the disc even spins.
Noma Bar x Sartorious
Noma Bar collaborated with Sartorius on a global illustration and animation campaign spanning print and digital media. Designed for international audiences, the work simplifies complex scientific processes into clear, structured visuals, ensuring consistent communication across markets while supporting messaging around laboratory research, pharmaceuticals, and advanced therapies.
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.
Louis Vuitton’s Visionary Journeys Seoul: A Look at the Six-Floor Experience
Louis Vuitton presents Visionary Journeys Seoul, a six-floor cultural and retail experience at Shinsegae The Reserve, blending exhibitions, dining, and design. Illustrator Jisu Choi created clear wayfinding maps and icons, supporting a cohesive visitor journey that connects travel, craftsmanship, and contemporary luxury storytelling.
Clara Dupré for Internazionale Kids: A Simple Look at Love
Clara Dupré illustrates a feature for Internazionale Kids exploring the question “What is love?”. Through clear editorial storytelling, the piece presents love as something expressed through actions, care, and responsibility, helping young readers understand emotions in a calm, accessible way grounded in everyday experiences.
Charlotte Trounce: Vestas Illustrations and the Visual Language of Renewable Energy
Charlotte Trounce collaborates with Vestas to create clear, accessible illustrations explaining renewable energy. The campaign translates complex sustainability topics into everyday scenes, highlighting wind power’s impact on communities, infrastructure, and energy independence, while demonstrating how visual storytelling can simplify and strengthen communication around clean energy solutions.
Javi Aznarez Turns Starmer and Reeves Into Budget Outlaws for The New Statesman
Javi Aznarez creates a dynamic cover for New Statesman depicting Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves as outlaws amid budget tensions. The illustration captures political urgency and economic debate, using bold editorial storytelling to reflect public reaction to Labour’s fiscal strategy and tax policies.
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.
Cool Beer, Characterful Art: Javi Aznarez’s Fridge-Friendly Designs for Andes Origen
Javi Aznarez collaborates with Andes Origen on illustrated can designs that transform packaging into playful, character-driven scenes. Working with This Is New London, the designs build brand identity through humour and storytelling, aligning with trends in craft beer packaging where illustration creates memorable, collectible visual experiences.
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.
Brian Rea and the The History of Illustration (Fairchild Books – Bloomsbury)
Brian Rea contributes to The History of Illustration, a comprehensive academic volume edited by Susan Doyle. Spanning global visual culture from ancient to contemporary practice, the book positions illustration as a critical discipline, linking historical image-making traditions to modern storytelling and communication.
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.
