I am an illustrator and visual storyteller based in Zurich. My work focuses on characters, narrative worlds and conceptual illustration, drawn to quiet moments, subtle tension and details that are often overlooked. All illustrations are hand-drawn—embracing imperfection, texture and intuition as a deliberate contrast to a fast, automated world. I combine strategic thinking with visual intuition to create images that connect story, culture and identity. I’m especially interested in character-driven storytelling and crafted, strong visuals—because ideas deserve images that are made, not generated.…

John Alonso

PRO
5.0 (1 review)

I am an illustrator and visual storyteller based in Zurich. My work focuses on characters, narrative worlds and conceptual illustration, drawn to quiet moments, subtle tension and details that are often overlooked. All illustrations are hand-drawn—embracing imperfection, texture and intuition as a deliberate contrast to a fast, automated world. I combine strategic thinking with visual intuition to create images that connect story, culture and identity. I’m especially interested in character-driven storytelling and crafted, strong visuals—because ideas deserve images that are made, not generated.…

Next availability:
August 10, 2026

I am an illustrator and visual storyteller based in Zurich. My work focuses on characters, narrative worlds and conceptual illustration, drawn to quiet moments, subtle tension and details that are often overlooked. All illustrations are hand-drawn—embracing imperfection, texture and intuition as a deliberate contrast to a fast, automated world.

I combine strategic thinking with visual intuition to create images that connect story, culture and identity. I’m especially interested in character-driven storytelling and crafted, strong visuals—because ideas deserve images that are made, not generated.

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Language

English
Fluent
German
Fluent
Italian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Brand & media strategy (relaunch positioning and media strategy) at Coop Supercard
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
Development of a new brand positioning and media strategy for a national campaign relaunch.
Creative AI-driven brand strategy (AI-powered creative processes & integrated digital strategy) at Valencia AG
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Implementation of AI-powered creative processes and development of an integrated digital strategy; supporting a strategy-driven approach to creative execution using AI workflows.
Brand positioning and media strategy at Coop Supercard
January 1, 2024 - Present
Developed a new brand positioning and media strategy for Coop Supercard, aligning messaging and channel strategy with campaign and brand experience goals.
Brand Strategy – Coop Supercard Campaign Relaunch at Coop Supercard
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024
Development of a new brand positioning and media strategy
Creative AI-driven Brand Strategy at Valencia AG
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Implementation of AI-powered creative processes and development of an integrated digital strategy
Positioning & brand experience strategy at Swissmem
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Positioning strategy for the association’s legal advisory services and activation of the brand experience, including a brand-experience and future-oriented approach.
Positioning strategy and brand experience activation at Swissmem
January 1, 2023 - Present
Created a positioning strategy for the association’s legal advisory services and developed activation concepts to strengthen and bring the brand experience to life.
Brand Strategy at Swissmem
January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Positioning strategy for the association’s legal advisory services and activation of the brand experience
Integrated brand strategy (market entry) at Terra Piedi AG
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Development of an integrated brand strategy for market entry and conceptualization of a targeted marketing and media strategy to build brand awareness.
Digital transformation & platform strategy at kvPro
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022
Digital transformation strategy for the education sector: positioning and marketing strategy for educational services plus concept and implementation of a data- and UX-driven platform strategy.
Brand strategy (market entry) and marketing/media strategy at Terra Piedi AG
January 1, 2022 - Present
Developed an integrated brand strategy for market entry for an FMCG start-up and conceptualized targeted marketing and media strategy to build brand awareness.
Digital transformation strategy (education sector) at kvPro
January 1, 2022 - Present
Produced a digital transformation strategy for the education sector, including positioning and activation elements that support education services through data- and UX-driven approaches.
Branding, Marketing and Media Strategy at Terra Piedi AG
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Development of an integrated brand strategy for market entry; conceptualisation of a targeted marketing and media strategy to build brand awareness
Digital Transformation Strategy - Education sector at kvPro
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022
Development of a digital strategy for the positioning and marketing of educational services; concept and implementation of a data- and UX-driven platform strategy

Education

MBA Graphic Design at School of Design Bern and Biel
June 1, 1990 - June 30, 1996
MBA Communication at Swiss Marketing Academy
May 30, 2006 - May 30, 2010
CAS Leadership at Bern University of Applied Sciences
May 30, 2016 - June 30, 2017
Practical Course for Senior Strategist at Future London Academy
May 30, 2023 - May 30, 2024

Qualifications

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Retail, Professional Services, Consumer Goods
    Henry’s Adventure – Children’s Book Illustration
    Henry’s Adventure is a children’s book illustration project centered around a curious and expressive character. The goal was to create a visual world that feels simple, warm, and engaging, while allowing the character to carry the narrative through subtle expressions and interactions. I developed the main character, Henry, along with a series of illustrated scenes that combine hand-drawn line work with soft color accents. The visual approach focuses on clarity, rhythm, and emotional connection, making it accessible and appealing for young audiences. The project includes: Character design and development Narrative scene illustrations Consistent visual language across spreads Integration of text and image The result is a cohesive illustrated story that balances simplicity with personality and invites curiosity and imagination. illustrator designer graphicdesigner…
    A New Journey Through the Arcana
    A New Journey Through the Arcana is a tarot illustration project that reimagines the Major Arcana through a contemporary visual language. The goal was to create a deck that balances traditional symbolism with a more intuitive and narrative approach, inviting viewers to engage with each card beyond its established meaning. Rather than providing fixed interpretations, the illustrations encourage reflection, curiosity and personal discovery. Each card was developed as an individual visual story with its own atmosphere, symbolism and emotional tone. The figures are seekers, questioners and wanderers who embody themes of transformation, uncertainty, courage and growth. Through composition, gesture and symbolic details, the illustrations create space for multiple readings and interpretations. The visual approach combines hand-drawn line work, expressive characters and carefully considered symbolism to create a cohesive world across the deck. While rooted in tarot traditions, the project explores how archetypal stories can be translated into a contemporary visual experience. The project includes: – Major Arcana card illustrations – Character and archetype development – Symbolic world-building – Narrative visual storytelling – Consistent visual language across the deck Integration of traditional tarot symbolism and contemporary illustration The result is a cohesive reinterpretation of the Major Arcana that honours the spirit of tarot while creating a fresh and engaging visual journey for a new generation of readers. illustrator designer graphicdesigner…
    Monocle Café
    Monocle Café is an observational illustration project inspired by everyday life in Zürich's Seefeld district. The project explores how atmosphere, colour and human interaction can be distilled into a simplified visual language. Rather than documenting the location realistically, the illustration focuses on the rhythm of the space, the relationships between people and the subtle moments that define the experience of being there. Using reduction, abstraction and expressive colour fields, the scene transforms an ordinary café setting into a visual study of urban life and contemporary culture. The figures become part of a larger composition, where architecture, objects and people interact through shape, colour and balance. The visual approach combines hand-drawn line work with transparent washes and geometric forms, creating a contemporary editorial aesthetic that emphasises mood over detail. The project includes: – Observational drawing – Editorial illustration – Exploration of colour and abstraction – Urban storytelling – Visual studies of place and atmosphere The result is an illustration that captures not only a location, but also the feeling of presence, conversation and everyday rituals within a contemporary urban setting. illustrator branding…
    Animal Worlds
    Animal Worlds is an illustration series dedicated to the observation and interpretation of wildlife. The project explores the unique textures, structures and personalities found across the animal kingdom. Feathers, scales, skin and fur become visual landscapes, while each illustration seeks to capture the presence and character of the subject beyond simple representation. Combining close observation with a hand-drawn approach, the series celebrates both biological detail and emotional connection. The project includes: – Wildlife illustration – Observational drawing – Texture and pattern studies – Colour exploration – Character through form and expression The result is a collection of illustrations that reveal the beauty, complexity and individuality of animals while encouraging curiosity about the natural world. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    Speed Racers
    Speed Racer is an ongoing illustration project exploring the relationship between identity and disguise. Using the racing helmet as a recurring visual motif, the series examines how objects can become extensions of personality. The face remains hidden, yet each character reveals a distinct presence through gesture, colour and attitude. The illustrations combine expressive line work, vibrant colour palettes and a graphic approach to form, creating images that feel both contemporary and timeless. Inspired by motorsport culture and visual storytelling, the project investigates how identity can be communicated even when the individual remains anonymous. The result is a series of portraits that blur the line between character design, visual storytelling and personal symbolism.…
    Christmas Tale
    Christmas Tale is an illustrated series inspired by winter folklore, seasonal traditions and the visual language of storytelling. The project explores the contrast between wonder and mystery through a collection of characters and scenes featuring Santa Claus, Krampus, children and symbolic winter landscapes. Rather than retelling a specific story, the illustrations create fragments of a larger narrative that invite viewers to imagine their own connections and interpretations. The visual approach combines geometric composition, limited colour palettes and expressive character design to create a distinctive world that feels both familiar and slightly surreal. The project includes: – Character design – Narrative illustration – Visual storytelling – Development of a seasonal visual universe – Exploration of folklore and symbolism The result is a cohesive collection of illustrations that balances playfulness, mystery and visual storytelling while drawing on the rich traditions of winter myths and celebrations. illustrator graphicdesigner…
    Planet Shroom
    Planet Shroom is an experimental world-building project that explores the boundaries between nature, fantasy and science fiction. The project imagines an ecosystem inhabited by oversized fungi, strange creatures and evolving landscapes. Rather than following a traditional narrative, the illustrations build an immersive environment where organic forms and imagined species coexist within a coherent visual universe. The visual language combines vibrant colour, detailed line work and speculative world-building to create a place that feels unfamiliar yet strangely believable. The project includes: – World-building – Creature design – Environmental illustration – Speculative storytelling – Experimental visual development The result is a rich and evolving visual universe that demonstrates how illustration can create complete worlds from imagination alone. illustrator graphicdesigner designer…
    Storyboards
    This collection presents selected storyboard work created to support film, animation and campaign development. The objective was to translate ideas, scripts and concepts into clear visual sequences that communicate narrative flow, atmosphere and key moments before production begins. Each storyboard focuses on clarity, composition and pacing, helping teams align around a shared visual direction. The visual approach combines rapid sketching, cinematic framing and visual problem-solving to explore scenes, transitions and emotional beats. The project includes: – Storyboard development – Narrative sequencing – Visual concept exploration – Scene composition – Pre-production visualisation The result is a series of visual frameworks that transform abstract ideas into actionable narratives and support efficient creative decision-making. illustrator…