"Beyond Artistry: The Digital Reality of Children’s Book Creatives" by Darlee Urbiztondo
Oct 23, 2025
Online event
Darlee explores how identity, labor, and creative choices are shaped by a platform that rewards visibility but rarely acknowledges the invisible work behind it.
Details:
● Date: October 23,2025, Thursday
● Time: 8:00 pm Amsterdam Time
● Length: 30 minutes + Discussion
● Where: Zoom
● Price: FREE for members
● Who it’s for: Children’s book illustrators, authors, and creatives interested in reflecting on how digital platforms shape our work and our identities
Children’s book makers are often seen as people who “draw or write cute things” or “make pretty pictures and write pretty stories.” But we know our work carries weight. Our stories and images spark imagination, nurture empathy, and shape how children make sense of the world.
Yet in today’s digital age, the realities of working as a children’s book creative, illustrator, or author are often misunderstood or overlooked. Platforms like Instagram open doors for visibility and connection, but they also act as invisible forces shaping our creative identities.
This talk invites us to look beyond the artwork itself and reflect on the invisible labor, pressures, and choices behind every post, every story, every book we share online.
Why You Should Join
This is not a session about how to hack the algorithm, grow your followers, or build a content strategy. There are already plenty of resources for that.
This talk will explore how identity, labor, and creative choices are shaped by a platform that rewards visibility but rarely acknowledges the invisible work behind it.
Registration closes Tuesday October 21st at midnight, no exceptions.
Questions? Email Fanely at [email protected] or Mayra at [email protected]
About the Speaker
About Happy
Darlee Urbiztondo goes by the name Happylee on social media and is called by her family and friends Happy. She is a Filipino illustrator based in Belgium. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Cultural Studies at KU Leuven. She has also been a member of SCBWI since 2020 and volunteers at the SCBWI Benelux Chapter. Darlee believes in the transformative power of stories and imagery to shape how we see the world and our place within it. Through magical and whimsical creations, she seeks to share joy while inviting viewers to see beyond borders, into the heart of culture and humanity. An old soul at heart, she enjoys a good cup of coffee, books, films, anime, and singing, always finding inspiration in the simple pleasures of life.