Xaviera Altena, illustrator
Xaviera Altena is a Rotterdam-born illustrator currently living and working in the city. Her illustrations address social issues, from the environment to inclusivity, using bold lines and bright colours. Her eye-catching work was commissioned by the Guardian for Glastonbury 2019.
Matt Blease, illustrator
Born in Liverpool, Blease studied Design Futures in Edinburgh before moving to London in 2004.
Before embarking on his career as an illustrator Blease worked as a designer for brands including Nike, BBC and PlayStation and went on to lead the graphic design team at Liberty.
Blease’s work is influenced by his graphic design background, communicating ideas in a playful and direct way. His distinctive illustration style is recognisable in its observational humour, emotional intelligence as well as his bold and confident line work, and often draws on his love of skateboarding and cycling.
Clients include Apple, Google, the New Yorker, Rapha, TFL, Vogue, Coca-Cola, Penguin Books, the Guardian, Patagonia and the New York Times.
Alex Breuer, executive creative director, the Guardian
Alex Breuer is executive creative director of the Guardian. Working in both digital and print formats, Breuer has worked across a broad range of high-profile brands including the Times, the Financial Times, Esquire and Men’s Health. At the Guardian, he has developed new responsive design and content forms that will not just embody the best of timeless journalistic and editorial design thinking, but also evolve new approaches that seamlessly translate into new technologies. He lead the transformation of the newspaper from Berliner to tabloid and the accompanying evolution of the wider Guardian brand. Breuer’s work has been honoured by the D&AD, PPA, SND and SPD.
Mona Chalabi, illustrator and data editor, the Guardian US
Mona Chalabi is data editor at large of the Guardian US and an illustrator whose data drawings depict everything from immigrant detention to balding patterns. They’ve been commended by the Royal Statistical Society and exhibited by the Design Museum.
Sam Jacobs, creative director, Oliver
Sam Jacobs is an award-winning creative director who leads the Guardian’s in-house creative agency. He works primarily on the Guardian’s brand and reader revenue work, including subscriptions, contributions and brand marketing.
Before joining the Guardian, Jacobs co-founded and ran the Shanghai-based creative agency, Jellymon, working with clients including Nike, Converse, Adidas, Google, Apple, Uniqlo, Red Bull and Mini.
Sonia Sudhakar, marketing director, the Guardian
Sonia Sudhakar has more than 20 years’ marketing experience across travel and media sectors. In four years at the Guardian she has overseen the launch of the tabloid format Guardian and Observer newspapers and the marketing transition from a reach to relationship revenue model.
Passionate about diversity, Sonia is involved with Intermedia, ISBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Network and The Together TV Media Advisory Group.
Katherina Tudball, creative director, Superunion London and member of the board of trustees, D&AD
Katherina Tudball is creative director at design and branding agency Superunion and has over 15 years’ experience creating design for some of the world’s most prominent organisations.
With a passion for creativity that delivers positive social impact, she has worked on numerous projects in the arts, culture, education and non-profit sectors. Her recent work includes award-winning rebrands for BBC Two and Shakespeare’s Globe. Her creative work and advocacy for diversity has been recognised by D&AD’s members, who elected her to the board of trustees in 2016.
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Tudball works with D&AD’s New Blood Shift programme to promote emerging creative talent. She is also a regular visiting lecturer and speaker, recently completing four years as an external examiner for graphics and illustration at the Cass School, at London Metropolitan University.
Eliza Williams, editor, Creative Review
Eliza Williams is editor at Creative Review magazine, and a writer, critic and broadcaster on art, design, advertising and music. She also hosts the Creative Review podcast. She has published two books, This Is Advertising and How 30 Great Ads Were Made, and has contributed to several books published including The 21st-Century Art Book and The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design.
