Aya Ghanameh is a Palestinian illustrator, writer, and designer from Amman, Jordan based in New York City. Her work moves away from state-centric ways of thinking to center the voices of ordinary people in historical and political narratives. Her debut children's picture book, THESE OLIVE TREES (Viking Books, 2023), is inspired by the experiences of her family who cultivated her love of the earth throughout her upbringing in exile. She is also the illustrator of DEAR MUSLIM CHILD by Rahma Roodah (Balzer + Bray, 2024), and EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO'S GARDEN by Jenan A. Matari (Interlink Publishing, 2025). Aya graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Literary Arts & Studies. Previously a Children's Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books, she is now a Designer at Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House). Clients Include: Penguin Random House, HarperCollinsPublishers, Interlink Publishing, Awesome Socks, Good Store, Radish House Boutique Agency, Huwa Olive Oil, Vestal Review, Khoreo Magazine, Strange Horizons.…

Aya Ghanameh

Aya Ghanameh is a Palestinian illustrator, writer, and designer from Amman, Jordan based in New York City. Her work moves away from state-centric ways of thinking to center the voices of ordinary people in historical and political narratives. Her debut children's picture book, THESE OLIVE TREES (Viking Books, 2023), is inspired by the experiences of her family who cultivated her love of the earth throughout her upbringing in exile. She is also the illustrator of DEAR MUSLIM CHILD by Rahma Roodah (Balzer + Bray, 2024), and EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO'S GARDEN by Jenan A. Matari (Interlink Publishing, 2025). Aya graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Literary Arts & Studies. Previously a Children's Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books, she is now a Designer at Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House). Clients Include: Penguin Random House, HarperCollinsPublishers, Interlink Publishing, Awesome Socks, Good Store, Radish House Boutique Agency, Huwa Olive Oil, Vestal Review, Khoreo Magazine, Strange Horizons.…

Available to hire

Aya Ghanameh is a Palestinian illustrator, writer, and designer from Amman, Jordan based in New York City. Her work moves away from state-centric ways of thinking to center the voices of ordinary people in historical and political narratives. Her debut children’s picture book, THESE OLIVE TREES (Viking Books, 2023), is inspired by the experiences of her family who cultivated her love of the earth throughout her upbringing in exile. She is also the illustrator of DEAR MUSLIM CHILD by Rahma Roodah (Balzer + Bray, 2024), and EVERYTHING GROWS IN JIDDO’S GARDEN by Jenan A. Matari (Interlink Publishing, 2025).

Aya graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Literary Arts & Studies. Previously a Children’s Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books, she is now a Designer at Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House).

Clients Include: Penguin Random House, HarperCollinsPublishers, Interlink Publishing, Awesome Socks, Good Store, Radish House Boutique Agency, Huwa Olive Oil, Vestal Review, Khoreo Magazine, Strange Horizons.

See more

Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent
Arabic
Fluent

Work Experience

Designer at Penguin Random House
March 1, 2023 - Present
Designing covers, jackets, endpapers, and interiors with fresh typography for approximately 20-30 books a year for picture, novelty, board, chapter, illustrated middle-grade, graphic novels, and YA books. Finding and pitching illustrators, and effectively communicating with artists and agents. Art directed Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.
Lead Designer and Art Director at Buddoo Books
May 1, 2024 - Present
Freelancing book design and art direction for Buddoo Books, a small, independent publishing house. The first project, Maya Loves the Sun, received a Foreword starred review. Designing covers, jackets, endpapers, and interiors for picture book projects and art directing illustrators. Working on branding identity and publisher templates to set up the brand for future publications.
Freelance Illustrator and Designer at Good Store and The Awesome Socks Club
May 1, 2024 - September 20, 2025
Illustrated Good Store’s first ever large and small puzzles featuring their iconic brand character, Dot, for publication and launch in 2024.
Children’s Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books
June 1, 2022 - September 20, 2025
Designed book covers and jackets, book interiors, gift products, sales materials, and mock‑up books and products geared towards children and young adults throughout a year-long, full-time fellowship. Assisted in creating original and existing brand support products in various stationery and specialty packaging formats. Design lead on Elefantastic! by Jane Yolen and Brett Helquist, and Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner. Collaborated with Room to Read to develop a book on Filipino Sign Language and sign languages across the world for publication in the United States. The project, Dancing Hands, won the Schneider Family Book Award in 2023.
Freelance Designer & Illustrator at Institute for Palestine Studies
February 1, 2021 - September 20, 2025
Redesigned the cover of the bi-annual Journal of Palestine Studies and variations of the Institute’s logo in celebration of the academic journal’s 50th year to be used for 10 years. Provided illustrations as supporting visual elements to a feature writing workshop.
Designer at Penguin Random House
March 1, 2023 - Present
Designing covers, jackets, endpapers, and interiors with fresh typography for approximately 20-30 books a year across picture, novelty, board, chapter, illustrated middle-grade, graphic novels, and YA; sourcing and communicating with illustrators and agents; art directed Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.
Lead Designer and Art Director at Buddoo Books
May 1, 2024 - Present
Freelance book design and art direction for a small independent publisher; led branding identity and publisher templates; first project Maya Loves the Sun received a Foreword starred review; designed covers, jackets, endpapers, interiors, and instructed illustrators.
Freelance Illustrator and Designer at Good Store and The Awesome Socks Club
May 1, 2024 - September 20, 2025
Illustrated Good Store’s first-ever large and small puzzles featuring their brand character, Dot, for publication and launch in 2024; contributed branding and design elements.
Children’s Books & Gifts Design Fellow at Chronicle Books
June 30, 2022 - September 20, 2025
Designed book covers and jackets, interiors, gift products, sales materials, and mock-ups; design lead on Elefantastic! by Jane Yolen and Brett Helquist, and Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner; collaborated with Room to Read to develop Dancing Hands (Filipino Sign Language) for publication in the US; Dancing Hands won the Schneider Family Book Award in 2023.
Freelance Designer & Illustrator at Institute for Palestine Studies
February 28, 2021 - September 20, 2025
Redesigned the cover of the bi-annual Journal of Palestine Studies and variations of the Institute’s logo; produced illustrations as supporting visuals for a feature writing workshop.

Education

BFA in Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design
September 4, 2017 - June 2, 2021
BFA in Illustration, Minor in Literary Arts and Studies at Rhode Island School of Design
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2021

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Non-Profit Organization

Skills

Experience Level