It’s a big data world
April Montgomery at Computerworld Magazine is one of my favorite art directors and we have worked together for many years. She is one of the more collaborative Art Directors I work for and the project often morphs into something bigger depending on how the sketches work with her design. It often feels like improvisation working with April.
The above illustration was a sample she had seen and by coincidence it was the perfect metaphor for a feature she had about big data. April didn’t have available copy, but asked for ideas which could relate to big data. As the articles came in, many of the ideas made it to finals and the original illustration morphed into a spread. Much thanks to April for the collaboration.
Sometimes it seems like I get paid to have fun.
Here’s the additional spots based upon the main art:
Sketches exploring big data for potential spots:
And here’s a few of the spreads:
![CWD_Data+_[inside]-4](https://www.jamesyang.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CWD_Data-_inside-4.jpg)
![CWD_Data+_[inside]-5](https://www.jamesyang.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CWD_Data-_inside-5.jpg)
Nautilus issue 28: The Year 2050
Website Cover, Table of contents for Nautilus.
The year 2050 for Nautilus.
Printed Edition, Nautilus.
Nautilus is a favorite client for many illustrators because of their fascinating long form stories and the excellent art direction from Len Small. Whenever Len calls, you know you will be pushed a little beyond your comfort level but the journey will be worth it. He had an assignment which he said was right in my zone: He wanted a curtain and table of contents image for the subject of 2050. Len said the art should not have the usual gadgets or robots depicting the future. He wanted a metaphor which suggested the present but also a world which is both familiar but different.
Len knows me well. This it the kind of conceptual challenge I love. We decided the perfect approach was two forests suggesting different worlds. In a stroke of luck, I was staying in a sleek modern apartment with a beautiful mountain forest during the project. It was the perfect environment for creating the piece.
Much thanks to Len and Nautilus for the inspiring project.
Out the hack door
It’s always nice to work with new clients. AD John Paxson from Washington State University’s magazine called with an opener assignment he thought would be right up my alley. The story was about utilities using simulations to find weaknesses in their grid. Since many utilities are now controlled by computers this has become a bigger issue. They used former hackers to test their system and found utilities had been focusing in the wrong places. John wanted a fun interpretation of a utility being broken into while all the security was facing the wrong direction. Since I love drawing thieves this was a fun assignment.
Much thanks to John for the great project.
Here’s the art in the final layout.
Madness of crowds
The Chronicle of Higher Education is one of my oldest clients so it’s exciting to see their stories pop up in my aggregate news sites. They called with an editorial about false consensus in academic circles. A public statement will be made with the endorsement of many scholars. Turns out a lot of those scholars feel bullied into supporting a statement which may not fit their views.
This is one of those assignments where ideas just flowed. Some of the ideas were variations of the crowd running off a cliff or being carried away. Art Director Scott Seymour selected an idea of people helplessly falling into a mechanical talking head. Turns out everyone was pleased with the approach when the final art was finished.
Much thanks to the Chronicle for always interesting assignments.
Shop Talk
Lydia Anderson called with a very fun project for Experience Life. They needed a series of illustrations for a feature about office politics and the many types of personalities you need to navigate in the work day. They wanted humorous interpretations of personalities and since I am a fan of “The Office” and “Office Space” plenty of ideas came to mind. It was a perfect fit for my approach to humor and style.
Thanks to Lydia for the fun assignment.
Master and student
Watching many of my friends create covers for The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association has been inspiring with a little bit of envy. Art Director Emma Dalby has created an impressive collection of covers and selection of illustrators from around the world. The minimal and tasteful design highlights the art and put pressure on the illustrator to pull off the cover. I had the good fortune of meeting Emma late last year while we both judged the Society of Illustrator competition.
It was a thrill when Emma called with the subject of mentor and student. She wanted something focused more on the relationship and less on the science or academics. Quite a few metaphors came to mind but Emma decided this was the most immediate. The passenger balloon metaphor suggested the idea of unlimited potential and experience for the student who is lucky enough to find a mentor.
Much thanks to Emma for the assignment and lovely design.
Word to the wise
Nicki Kalish from the New York Times called with a fun special section with advice for first year college students as Summer winds down and they prepare for their first adventure away from home. One article “How to Live Wisely” was the most emailed story of the weekend for the Times. The other story “The Real Skinny on Freshman Life” has humorous but practical advice for Freshmen students. Both were great articles and I hope the art did justice to the writers.
