Jean Jullien’s Peace for Paris illustration given Creative Distinction award

Parisian illustrator Jean Jullien’s Peace for Paris design, which shows the Eiffel Tower forming a peace sign, has been awarded the ADC*E [Art Directors Club Europe] Creative Distinction prize.

The new award is given for “creativity with a profound social and cultural impact,” and was created by Michael Boebel, former chief operating officer of Publicis Germany and member of the Art Directors Club of Germany, who worked with fellow board member HP Albrecht in developing it.

“With the sign, the only thing that matters [to me] is that people saw a sign of peace,” said Jean of the illustration. “That they saw a sign everyone could read, regardless of their language. And what it could read was ‘peace, solidarity and community’. So in this sense, its function has been fulfilled.”

He added: “I grew up studying things like May ’68, and the work of people like Alan Fletcher; designers who really truly used image as a language to communicate. It’s one of the first times in my life as a designer and image-maker where I’ve been wowed by the power of communication.

ADC*E says: “Initially an instinctive, emotional response to the Paris terrorist attacks, shared on social media, the illustration became a worldwide symbol of unity, solidarity and defiance.”