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I'm Chiara Dattola, a freelance illustrator and visual storyteller working across editorial, publishing, education and advertising. I approach each project with thorough research of meanings and concepts, imagining color, symbols, and even etymology as the seeds of every image. Color is the foundation of my stylistic signature, built from chromatic contrasts I deliberately explore. Beyond creating images, I mentor and teach through SMALL ACADEMIA, run workshops for adults and children, and collaborate with universities and institutions around Milan.…I'm Chiara Dattola, a freelance illustrator and visual storyteller working across editorial, publishing, education and advertising. I approach each project with thorough research of meanings and concepts, imagining color, symbols, and even etymology as the seeds of every image. Color is the foundation of my stylistic signature, built from chromatic contrasts I deliberately explore. Beyond creating images, I mentor and teach through SMALL ACADEMIA, run workshops for adults and children, and collaborate with universities and institutions around Milan.

Chiara Dattola

Illustrator, Artist, Storyboard Artist, +3

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I'm Chiara Dattola, a freelance illustrator and visual storyteller working across editorial, publishing, education and advertising. I approach each project with thorough research of meanings and concepts, imagining color, symbols, and even etymology as the seeds of every image. Color is the foundation of my stylistic signature, built from chromatic contrasts I deliberately explore. Beyond creating images, I mentor and teach through SMALL ACADEMIA, run workshops for adults and children, and collaborate with universities and institutions around Milan.…I'm Chiara Dattola, a freelance illustrator and visual storyteller working across editorial, publishing, education and advertising. I approach each project with thorough research of meanings and concepts, imagining color, symbols, and even etymology as the seeds of every image. Color is the foundation of my stylistic signature, built from chromatic contrasts I deliberately explore. Beyond creating images, I mentor and teach through SMALL ACADEMIA, run workshops for adults and children, and collaborate with universities and institutions around Milan.

Available to hire

I’m Chiara Dattola, a freelance illustrator and visual storyteller working across editorial, publishing, education and advertising. I approach each project with thorough research of meanings and concepts, imagining color, symbols, and even etymology as the seeds of every image.

Color is the foundation of my stylistic signature, built from chromatic contrasts I deliberately explore. Beyond creating images, I mentor and teach through SMALL ACADEMIA, run workshops for adults and children, and collaborate with universities and institutions around Milan.

Skills

Illustration

Book Illustration

Editorial Illustration

Character Design

Collage Illustration

Experience Level

Illustration

Expert

Book Illustration

Expert

Editorial Illustration

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Charcoal Illustration

Intermediate

Language

Italian

Fluent

French

Advanced

English

Intermediate

Work Experience

Professional freelance illustrator at Chiara Dattola studio

January 1, 2000 - Present

Freelance illustrator creating imagery across diverse market sectors. Each illustration is conceived after careful study of meanings and concepts related to the theme; I imagine colors or symbols at the start and study key terms' etymology. Color forms the foundation of my signature, with chromatic disharmonies and contrasts deliberately explored.

Lecturer in Illustration at Rufa - University of Fine Arts

January 1, 2025 - Present

Lecturer in Illustration for the Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Comics and Illustration (Milan).

Founder, Independent Mentor and Tutor/ Graphic designer/ Illustrator at SMALL ACADEMIA

January 1, 2022 - Present

Founded an educational project ‘SMALL ACADEMIA’ (school of drawing and imagination). Responsible for brand, visual communication, and content; professor and mentor for workshops for adults and children, and for new and professional creatives and illustrators.

Independent teacher at Various public and private institutions

January 1, 2009 - Present

Holds workshops for adults and children related to visual communication, publications for children, and illustration courses for different target audiences according to client needs.

Independent Illustrator at Corriere della Sera

January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2015

Created illustrations and infographics for the newspaper, its website and inserts.

Professor/Tutor at Istituto Europeo di Design

January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2017

Taught Color Theory, Traditional illustration techniques, Instinctive drawing, Editorial illustration for Bachelor’s degrees in Illustration (Milan and Turin).

Resident Illustrator at Zed Milan

January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2007

Created illustrations and visual elements for the company’s communication and for commercial visual content.