A Word From DK+ Culture
With the launch of two freshly curated collections from our AOI Folios, we talk to DK+ Culture about their mission to create, celebrate and educate in publishing.
We’ve had the pleasure of seeing the wonderful choices selected by DK Children’s Publishing in ‘Our Whimsical World’ and DK+ Culture in ‘Make Your Mark’. The AOI’s Natasha Knight talks to the latter about the illustration industry, exciting projects coming soon and advice for freelance illustrators interested in working in publishing.
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Please tell us a bit about your team
Hello, we are the Culture team, sitting within DK+, the licensing division that focuses on pop culture and fan-based publishing. Our list’s mission is to create innovative and “zeitgeisty” children’s non-fiction that sparks essential conversations, celebrates culture, and educates beautifully. Most of our books are illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, and we look for exemplary, top-tier illustration talent.
Can you tell us a bit more about the projects you’ve included in this feature? We’re always interested in projects, from concept to end product – could you share some insight into one of your more recent ones?
Our core audience is 7-12 year old children. We wanted to discuss some of our newest projects such as: A brand new book that will be published next year called Girls Like Me in partnership with Rebel Girls and Zoom Out in partnership with WWF.
We like to allow the illustrators we work with to bring their own visions and concepts to the books
Girls Like Me.
We recently partnered with Rebel Girls to create some really vibrant publishing, and this book is our first one. It’s also our most ambitious book yet. We have commissioned nine illustrators across the world to bring to life 70 girls worldwide, including the brilliant Sinem Erkas, Frida Ruh, Anna Strumph, Yifan Wu (see their WIA 2024 longlisting), Tinuke Fagborun, Caribay Marquina, Aurélia Durand and Libby VanderPloeg. The project has been enormous and we are so thrilled with the result.
Sinem who also designed the book suggested a 5th pantone throughout the book and we went for it!
Zoom Out
We have worked with Owen Davey, the fantastic illustrator who created the first book in a planned series focusing on natural history with his beautifully observed stylised and detailed artworks. We are working on the second one that should be published in Summer 2026. Owen not only created the artwork, but also designed the layouts and worked closely with the writer to create this engaging book.
Aspects from one book project can spark ideas on another, completely different book
What inspires you about the work your team does and the illustrators that you work with?
The Culture team is a very small team that works really hard to bring the magic of this world to young children. It allows us to work with the best talents to create something really unique. We like to allow the illustrators we work with to bring their own visions and concepts to the books and that often results in the books being so much more than we initially conceived!
DK+ Culture works across a wide variety of areas, which is exciting. Why is this important to the work you do?
The DK+ Culture team has working relationships with many diverse partners from The New York Met, Rebel Girls, and the ESA to individual authors such as Bear Grylls. Fundamentally it’s important to keep this variety (and we are always looking for more possible partnerships) because we need to keep the list vibrant and viable. Also aspects from one book project can spark ideas on another, completely different book, be it a new format, a technical innovation or an illustrator who does a great piece of work for us and we see a possibility for them in another book.
We do not always want the tried and tested
How do you stay connected with what is happening in the illustration industry and what’s the best piece of advice you can share for illustrators who would like to work with your team?
I would say the sources are very varied but one of our favourite tools is definitely Instagram. DK being based in London, we are also lucky enough to go to illustration events where we can meet new talents too. We also have good relationships built over years with a variety of illustrator Agencies so we often go to them as a first option when thinking about who we would like for a new project, even if it’s just to put together a moodboard of illustrators with a style we think could be right for a specific book. We do not always want the tried and tested artists, new and upcoming talent is often appealing.
A piece of advice when starting out – it seems obvious… follow the brief and stick to the schedule, and if you feel the brief is unclear always ask for more information or references – ask to have a call with the commissioning designer to talk issues through and get clarity if you need it. If you feel you are falling behind on a project, flag it up as soon as possible, we will always try to help to keep a book on track!
What can we expect to see from you at DK+ Culture in the near future?
We have many projects in the pipeline with some brilliant illustrators. We have an exciting book with Chris Packham being illustrated by Conor Nolan. There is a lovely book with The Met working with the illustrator Mat Williams. We cannot say much about it just yet but we have started an exciting new project with Rose Blake and we absolutely love working with her! Please stay tuned.
Our thanks to DK+ Culture and DK Children’s Publishing. To find out more about their work and projects, head to their website or click one of the links below.
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