Sneak Peak for Moo.com
Emily Potts called with a fun project from Moo.com. They wanted me to create 100 unique images for a 100 set of mini business cards with rounded corners to showcase their ability to customize. An article and interview about the cards and process will appear soon but Emily was kind enough to let me show a preview. It was fun and I did feel a tinge of sadness when the project was complete.
Much thanks to Emily and Moo.com.
Always the bridesmaid
Dan Smith from the Wall St Journal called with an assignment about companies getting on board with big data. Seems like they see other companies using big data and they are scrambling to get on board so they won’t be left behind. As a child my biggest worry was being the last to know if the other kids were doing something fun so this was a very easy concept for me to create. Come to think of it, many of my concepts are probably rooted in the dynamics of the playground.
Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2014
Very welcome and surprising news came from CA that one of my pieces has been accepted for the 2014 Illustration Annual. I used to read CA in high school and it was a big inspiration for a student finding his way. This is probably the toughest annual to be accepted so it’s always exciting to hear good news. Here’s a great post by Upper Case Magazine’s Janine Vangool about her experience judging the show.
The illustration “Who’s afraid of black swans?” was for an article about risk for Morningstar Advisor Magazine. Alex Skoirchet is one of my favorite directors and we have a nice collaborative process. Since I’m a bit of a financial geek, I really wanted to draw a black swan since it is a term for financial disruption. Risk is about fear so the image of being afraid of monsters at night seemed perfect.
Here were other options for risk. The literal monster could have worked but obviously I’m thrilled Alex picked the swan.
Passing through
The Chronicle of Higher Education and I go way back and it is rare to have a client for the life of a career. They were my first client and we have worked together ever since. It has been satisfying to watch the Chronicle grow in stature and see their articles selected for many of the aggregate sites I read.
This illustration for Art Director Scott Seymour was for an article about the retreat of US university education from an international scope at a time when the world is becoming more interconnected. What makes this even more distressing is US universities historically were leaders in an international view on education, especially during the 50’s and 60’s. The idea behind this was playing on the fear of being left behind.
Be the statistical ball
Tim Carr from Golf World started 2014 requesting a series of illustrations about advances in using statistics to improve the game of golfers. We have worked together since the Golf Magazine days in the 2000’s and have played many rounds together. Since I have been accused of having a single handicap swing but a mid handicap brain, this assignment might be the cure for my golfing ills. Growing up in a family of scientists also made this project fun. Maybe the next time Tim and I play, the brain will finally match the swing.
The illustration was originally a full page before Tim decided he needed a spread.
The focus of the spots were various aspects of the golf game which can be examined and the sometimes surprising results which can be discovered.
A pirate’s life for me
Planet Yang is off this week but will be back soon. We’re keeping an eye out for pirates so you will be safe.
Going with the flow
Watched a little football playoffs this weekend and one team’s success was attributed to chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers. They know each other so well the quarterback knows where the receiver will improvise when a play breaks down and the receiver knows where the quarterback likes to throw the ball. Art Director SooJin Buzelli and I have a similar relationship. It is uncanny how many times she picks the sketch I’m most excited about doing without any prompting. This was an illustration for PlanSponsor about how generation Y is learning how to adjust to the ups and downs they have confronted with the economy.
The sketches were ideas about the ups and downs generation Y has to endure. My gut said sketch 2 was best but any of them could have worked depending on the emphasis of the story. SooJin read my mind and picked sketch 2 but it is not uncommon for us to like the same approach.
We should really think about taking our mind reading act on the road.