Astrid Prasetianti, Mapping Stories with Colour and Curiosity

Astrid Prasetianti is an illustrator originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, now based on the outskirts of Paris. Her vibrant, playful work often takes the form of detailed maps and visual diaries, combining digital precision with the warmth of hand-drawn coloured pencil textures. Inspired by daily life and travel, Astrid brings a personal, inviting quality to her illustrations.

With a background in Visual Communication Design, she is known for her bright colour palettes, dynamic compositions, and meticulous layouts. Her work spans exhibitions, zines, and book illustration projects, with clients valuing her strong eye for detail and ability to translate ideas into lively, thoughtful imagery.

Let’s find out more about Astrid, where she finds her inspiration, how her process works, and more:

What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?

I think it would be my self-initiated project for which I illustrated a food map of Paris. From that, I found my style for map illustration and opened doors for more map projects from clients. That map is also included in Get Lost book by Victionary.

For my favourite client project, it will be a book that I illustrated which will be released this year in France. I’m proud of this because it’s my first book project ever and I really like the theme of the book. And for me as a non-french person, to be able to collaborate with a French publisher is an achievement. They are also very nice and delightful to work with.

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

I love to go to the library and bookstore — just going around looking at the book covers makes me happy, especially in the children’s section. I also love to go around the city and visit museums. I have to admit that I go to the museum not only to see the art but also to watch the people.

Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.

I think I’d be a good advocate for the importance of reading for children. When I was a kid, my parents always took me to the bookstore every Sunday, sometimes to get a new book and sometimes just to look around. And now that I have a kid, I’m trying to do the same thing, so his love for books and his imagination keeps growing.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

Probably my ability to choose colours, even if I need to use limited colours, and also my creativity and attention to details.

If you have done paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for (up to now)?

Clients have mentioned that they like to work with me for my creativity, cooperation, communication and professionalism.

How would you describe your style?

Colourful, personal and fun.

Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it — something that connects to something meaningful to you.

I love maps and children’s books, and both have been my passions for a long time. So my dream project is probably a combination of illustrated maps and children’s books. I also want to do more projects about Indonesia or Jakarta, the city where I was born and grew up. I did a map project based on Jakarta a few years ago and I’d love to do it again.

Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?

Not really a personal project, but since last year I found joy in drawing in my sketchbook with coloured pencils, something that I rarely did before. So I’ve been trying to do that more every day. I draw what I see at museums, when I go on holidays, what I eat in a day, what my son does at home, etc.

Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would that be?

I will probably illustrate a book about my son. He’s a collector, he collects so many random objects like rocks, branches, pine cones, seeds, shells, bottle caps, museum brochures, train tickets and so many things. So I think that might be a fun book to illustrate.

If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.