Uncloaked
Sometimes an assignment comes that’s close to your heart. Pamela Fogg at Middlebury Magazine called with a story about how behavior changes when people use their real names online. Turns out conversation becomes more civil when users put a person behind the comments. It’s upsetting how the internet has turned into a verbal slugfest with no boundaries. Once the mask of anonymity is removed, people remember there are consequences. With a topic like this, I like to be as simple as possible to drive the point home.
New York Times: Playing dress up
Illustration for the Well section of the New York Times about the Costumes That Obscure Doctor and Patient. AD Catherine Gilmore-Barnes requested something fun for an interesting post from a physician wondering if the standard white coat and patient smock are uniforms which have become outdated. Doctors feel the coats can be intimidating for patients and patients feel embarrassed when wearing smocks. The idea of paper cutout dolls is an obvious idea but sometimes the best ideas are approaches which do not try too hard to be clever. The editors also liked the idea because it caught the idea of both the doctor and patient being on equal ground.
Wall St Journal: taking the express
Some illustrators stress about rush jobs but I don’t. They are like quick challenges on Top Chef so I treat it like a game. Dan Smith called with a rush job for an article about new US tax rules for global companies. Global companies complained about the mountains of paperwork required and the US agreed to a simpler approach. The variation of “seeing the forest through the trees” was the favorite idea with the editors. Sometimes the perfect idea pops into your head as the clock is ticking.
The Hot List for Golf Digest
Art Director Tim Oliver called with an assignment he knew I would love: Tim needed a series of illustrations for Golf Digest’s 2016 Hot List. The Hot list is like Christmas for golfers with comprehensive reviews of gear for all levels of golfers. The Hot List is how I chose my equipment so I was thrilled to say yes. Being a golfer was probably a big advantage with creating ideas since I know golfers become emotionally attached to their clubs and golf balls. Tim and I also play together which made this an even more fun assignment.
PlanSponsor Magazine: Take me to the pilot
Cover art for SooJin Buzelli and PlanSponsor magazine about choosing the right advisor for your investments. SooJin has an uncanny ability to know what I’m thinking. The original sketch was more complex but I was thinking it might have been better if it was simpler. SooJin saw the sketch and suggested we take a simpler approach. Why do the characters have 3 ears? This was my metaphor for the uniqueness of each individual.
Here’s the cover:
and here’s the spread:
New York Times: Bad habits
Illustration for the New York Times Well Section about treating patients with addictions. Art Director Audrey Razgaitis asked for an approach which caught the barriers addictive patients cause hospitals with treatment. I was happy when they picked the idea of a patient hiding behind a forest of cigarettes. It got to the point while allowing room to create an eye catching image.
Wall St Journal: Small things
Illustration for the Wall St Journal about the appeal of small international stocks. Art Director Orlie Kraus asked for an image with the idea that international small caps can be overlooked. Kids standing in a crowd of adults seemed the perfect launching point for ideas about being easily ignored.