Who We Are & How It All Began

Illustoria is a tri-annual art and storytelling magazine celebrating visual storytelling, comics, DIY culture, art, artists, and young people. 

Illustoria Magazine was founded in 2016 by Joanne Meiyi Chan, a longtime children’s book editor, kid-lit lover, and mother of two. Drawing from her collaborations with renowned artists and writers from her time at Lucasfilm/Disney Publishing Worldwide, and her deep affection for independent publishing, Joanne envisioned a new kind of magazine for kids—one that would showcase stories and art while giving readers insight into the creative process. 

Together with her partner, Mark Rogero, a designer and maker, and under the iconic art direction of Elizabeth Haidle alongside a team of artists, book lovers, writers and designers, Illustoria magazine emerged: a high-quality, print publication that would be as engaging and delightful to young readers as to grownups–each issue a celebration of creativity, visual storytelling and DIY culture and a counter to our fast-paced, digital age.

In 2019, Illustoria began publication under McSweeney’s, a longtime publisher of elegant and distinctive magazines and books, based in San Francisco. Subsequently, Illustoria became the official magazine of the International Alliance of Youth Writing Centers, amplifying and honoring youth voices in the magazine. 

Dozens of stunning issues (and counting) later, Illustoria’s ethos remains: to give adults and kids a reason to slow down together and to celebrate the well-curated art and storytelling in our pages.

Our art director for every issue since the beginning, illustrator and comics artist Elizabeth Haidle, continues to shape the magazine’s visual identity, as well as overseeing editorial content and arranging collaborations between writers and artists. Artist Claire Astrow, also with us from the start, does everything from editorial to communications to the essential work of finding advertisers to help make the magazine possible. McSweeney’s founder Dave Eggers, publisher Amanda Uhle, and other staff support the efforts, and artist Annie Dills lays out each issue with care and with style.

Much has also changed since those early days. After serving as founding editor-in-chief of the magazine, Joanne went on to found Illustoria Studio—with an online shop launching in 2026.