Yara Kono was born in São Paulo, Brazil. She is an illustrator and graphic designer. She studied Biochemical Pharmacy at Universidade Estadual Paulista and Design and Communication at Escola Panamericana de Arte. She was a fellow at the Yamanashi Design Center in Japan. She lives in Portugal and has been part of the Planeta Tangerina team since 2004. She won the National Illustration Award in 2010 and the Bissaya Barreto Award in 2016. Among the mentions and selections, the Compostela Prize, Nami Concours (South Korea), Ilustrarte and Bologna Illustrators Exhibition.