Akin Düzakin
About Akin Düzakin
Akin Düzakin was born in 1961 in Gaziantep, Turkey, and grew up in Ankara. He studied Industrial Design at the Middle East Technical University (METU), graduating in 1985. In 1987 he moved to Norway to continue his education in Graphic Design and Illustration, completing his studies at the Applied Fine Arts School in Oslo in 1994. Since then, he has worked as a freelance illustrator. He has lived in Norway ever since and is married with two grown children.
Throughout his career, Akin has focused mainly on picture books, a format he feels especially at home with. So far, he has illustrated 52 picture books, and he has also written the text for three of them in Norwegian. Many of his books have reached readers outside Norway — 12 titles have been translated into 21 languages — and he has collaborated with publishers in countries such as Denmark, Canada, and Turkey.
His illustrations are created using a combination of traditional and digital techniques. He begins at the drawing table mainly with soft pastels and crayons, building up the colours and atmosphere by hand. The artwork is then developed further on the computer, where he adds details, adjusts tones, and refines the final images while keeping the soft, hand-drawn expression that characterizes much of his work.
In addition to his illustration practice, Akin has been active in professional organizations in Norway. He has held various organizational and advisory roles, including positions connected to bodies affiliated with the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, contributing to the field of children’s literature and visual storytelling.
Books illustrated by Akin have received numerous awards and recognitions, both nationally and internationally. His work has twice been honoured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and many of his books have been selected for distinguished lists and special mentions over the years.
Today, Akin Düzakin continues to work as an illustrator, maintaining his strong dedication to children’s literature and visual storytelling.
Awards and Nominations
2015 Honorable Mention at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for Why am I here
2013 Most Beautiful Book of the Year – Silver for Picture Book (awarded by Grafill)
2006 Book Art Prize (awarded by Grafill)
2002 Visual Award – Gold for Book Cover (awarded by Grafill)
2002 Visual Award – Silver for Illustration (awarded by Grafill)
2001 Visual Award – Silver for CD Cover (awarded by Grafill)
2001 Prize of the Ministry of Culture of Norway – Picture Books for Min storebror apen
2000 Most Beautiful Book of the Year – Silver for Book Illustration (awarded by Grafill)
1998 Unni Sand’s Picture Book Award for Over jordet
1995 Prize of the Ministry of Culture of Norway – Non-fiction Books for Noa
1997 The Brage Prize for Tvillingssøster
1996 Honorable Mention at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for Tvillingbror
1995 The Most Beautiful Books of the Year – Silver for Picture Book (awarded by Grafill)
1995 The Brage Prize – Children’s and Young People’s Books for Tvillingbror