Technical illustration showing how a conventional automotive battery works. Electrons in the positive plates (red) race through an electrolytic solution of water and sulfuric acid into the negative plates (blue). The six cells produce a total of 12.6 volts, powering the ignition system and starting the engine. In older batteries, lead sulfate crystals hinder the flow of electrons. AAA Living, AD Chris Ferguson.
Step-by-step animation of a Dallas Cowboys practice arena that collapsed in 60 mph microburst winds. For Popular Mechanics, print & iPad editions, November 2010.
The Art Directors Club is a global organization of creative professionals whose mission is to connect, provoke and elevate visual communicators. The ADC holds an annual competition to acknowledge and celebrate the best minds in the creative industries, awarding them with an ADC Cube. To help promote their 90th call for entries ADC invited artists, including myself, to submit artwork based on a cube template to communicate their message, to Connect, Provoke and Elevate.
Having an affinity for things mechanical, I took elevate literally. An elevator suited the cube template perfectly, so I started there.
Next I wanted to find a visual metaphor that spoke to the role art directors play in challenging creatives and editors to up their game. The phrase elevator pitch came to mind, which refers to a speech given to sell someone on an idea, product or project, in the time it takes to ride an elevator. I wanted the piece to have more depth than just two businessmen speaking in an elevator, so I sought other senses of the word pitch. Among other things, it can mean throwing a baseball, or (chiefly British) a soccer field (football pitch).
Though a baseball metaphor would probably go over better with an American audience, soccer seemed to better suit the challenge/cooperation metaphor I was going for. And football is the world’s game.
All the artwork debuted at ADC Gallery in New York City, and the call for entries should be out soon. Big thanks to Tessar, Nimit and Alexei who challenged me to up my game on this one.
Update: This work has been moved to my editorial illustration portfolio, Textbook Example.
If recent projects are any indication, energy is a hot topic. From advances in sustainable production, to energy independence, to efficiency and control, the issues are boiling over and innovation is gathering steam. Above: Four solar energy technologies illustrated: photovoltaic panels, solar water heating, solar power tower and passive solar heating. Right: Cutaway illustration of a new horizontal drilling technique that increases yield and reduces equipment costs and surface disturbance.
Left: If the US’ annual energy consumption was converted to coal, it would fill a 1,000 mile-long train consisting of 100,000 cars. If that coal were to be dumped on Manhattan, a 23 square mile island, the pile would be 160 feet deep. If the entire world’s energy consumption were converted to coal, the pile would be 618 feet — it would reach the 60th floor of the Empire State Building. Wind power would account for 14 inches of the pile. Solar power, a mere 10 sheets of paper thick.
Below: Smart homes will manage energy usage, take advantage of off-peak energy, control appliances, produce energy and sell it back to the grid, and brief homeowners about their energy consumption, and encourage efficient living.
Top illustration for University of Minnesota’s Momentum Magazine. Bottom three for Missouri S&T Magazine. Big thanks to Art Directors Sarah Schmitz and Mindy Limback!
