Media & Speaking

Brian LaRossa is an executive art director in Scholastic’s hardcover picture book group. Over more than two decades, he has designed or art directed more than 1,000 children’s books, including bestsellers and award-winning titles. He is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute and teaches at The City College of New York, where he is included in the faculty Experts List. He served on the jury for the Society of Illustrators’ 2026 Original Art exhibition and regularly speaks at SCBWI events.

He is available for interviews, lectures, panels, portfolio reviews, and classroom critiques about how illustration and design shape children’s reading experiences.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
▸ Picture Book Art Direction
▸ Visual Storytelling
▸ Children’s Book Illustration
▸ Illustration Commissioning
▸ Typography
▸ Book Design
▸ Visual Literacy
▸ Children’s Publishing
▸ Creative Operations
▸ Portfolio Development
▸ Careers in Illustration & Design
▸ Design Criticism and Education

SELECTED INTERVIEWS
▸ Literaticast, podcast
▸ Creative Boom, podcast
▸ Scratching the Surface, podcast
▸ SCBWI, interview
▸ Type Directors Club, interview
▸ Type Thursday, interview
▸ Print Magazine, interview

SPEAKING & TEACHING
Brian has spoken or critiqued work at Pratt, Parsons, Maryland Institute College of Art, Hollins University, College for Creative Studies, New York City College of Technology, SCBWI chapters, the Highlights Foundation, and the Typographics festival at Cooper Union. He also mentors emerging illustrators via We Need Diverse Books.

MEDIA & SPEAKING INQUIRIES 
For interviews, commentary, lectures, panels, or critiques, email hello@brianlarossa.com. Click here to download hi-res headshot.