Layal Idriss is a bookmaker, educator, and creative director who specializes in building meaningful connections through visual storytelling. 

Since beginning her professional path in 2011, she has illustrated 45 titles and provided creative direction for more than 100 projects globally.

Her work is defined by a balance of artistic quality and strategic purpose. One of her notable early projects, illustrating the bestseller "A Tea Party at Cinderella’s Palace," reached its twelfth edition and was shortlisted for the 2015 Emirates Telecommunications Award. Her illustrations have since been licensed by major retailers including Barnes & Noble.

As a co-founder of the award-winning publishing house Dar Waraqa and the founder of Radish House, Layal acts as a "Guardian of the Brand" for her clients. In 2025, she received the prestigious Gourmand World Award for the Aklana series, a 13-book project where she spearheaded the concept, art, and editorial direction.

Throughout her career, Layal has collaborated with prominent organizations such as Penguin Random House, Misk Art Institute, and the Saudi Ministry of Culture. Her background includes training at Nickelodeon Studios and an MFA in Illustration from California State University, Fullerton. Beyond her studio work, she has shared her expertise as a lecturer at CalArts (CSSSA) and CSUF, and continues to consult on global book projects.

Currently, Layal is furthering her expertise in the business of books as a Master of Science in Publishing candidate at New York University (NYU). Looking ahead to 2026, she was recently awarded a grant for the Chateau d’Orquevaux Residency in France. This commitment to continuous growth—including a Georgetown fellowship and an SVA New York residency—allows her to provide high-level, solution-based creative leadership to every team she joins.