Air Canada’s new environmental responsibility site, Leaveless, is now live. Featuring flight safety styled technical illustrations by me, the site explains the company’s green initiatives including more fuel efficient aircraft, weight reductions and trials with hydrogen fueled ground vehicles. Hats off to Air Canada for taking measures for a greener world.
New to the site is a phantom illustration of a cordless circular saw featuring the next generation of rechargable batteries. Nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries are said to recharge in minutes rather than hours, have ten times the life cycle and double the capacity of current rechargable batteries.
These batteries are currently being tested in consumer electronics, hardware and automotive applications and are expected on the shelf in the next 18 months. This technology will power products that are greener, more affordable and longer-lasting.
In his article for The Boston Globe, Dushko Petrovich looks at the work of American wildlife illustrator John James Audubon and reveals why illustration remains the medium of choice for scientific reference.
“When we turn to a picture to identify a bird – or the human pancreas, or a Doric column – we want a likeness not of any particular instance, but of the category itself. Ignoring all the anomalies and idiosyncratic moments that cameras helplessly collect, a draftsman of Audubon’s caliber is free to focus on what’s essential or distinctive and distill those qualities – gathered from observing live birds, posing dead specimens, and studying skeletons – into an image that invites both recognition and classification.”
Photographic technology with its gigapixels, high dynamic range, high-speed charge-coupled devices, high-definition video with infinite frame-rate, merely increases informational resolution—only illustration increases informational efficiency.
“Confronted with unprecedented quantities of data, we are constantly reminded that quality is what really matters. At a certain point, the quality and even usefulness of information starts being defined not by the precision and voracity of technology, but by the accuracy and circumspection of art.”
Full article (via BenFry.com)
Alberta Venture Magazine asked me to create a 3D typographic trophy for the cover of their annual Venture 100, a roundup of the 100 largest companies headquartered in Alberta. The image communicates the prestige of being a part of this elite group.
See the work and read more here.
I’ll be participating in the Philip Greenspun Illustration Project, a project to fund the creation and improvement of illustrations for Wikimedia, the foundation that runs the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. This project is made possible by a personal contribution from internet entrepreneur Philip Greenspun, who acknowledges the importance and efficacy of visual communication. He and project coordinator Brianna Laugher were interviewed by the New York Times about the project. The resulting illustrations will appear on relevant Wikipedia pages, and be available freely through a Creative Commons license.
I’ve begun distributing a promo postcard, “Information Matters.”
Using controversial subject matter, the taser device, it explores the importance of information, and the clarity with which it can be communicated visually, in compelling and provoking viewers.
The images used on the postcard can be seen (and zoomed) in the technical illustration portfolio.
Recently completed a cutaway illustration of an 80-foot flybridge megayacht and its cabin.
Technical illustration allows for the communication of a vast amount of visual information. In this case, the entirety of the vessel – inside and out – can be presented in a single image. The quality of design, materials and finishes can be emphasized. At the same time, distracting details such as bilge pumps and thrusters can be diminished or omitted to maintain clarity.
To capture the same amount of information with product photography would require numerous shots from various angles, each diminishing valuable layout space – and more importantly – diminishing the viewer’s attention.
Made a couple additions to the site: An illustration of Boston Dynamics robotic mule, BigDog, and a spot illustration for Canadian Woodworking Magazine. Also made some minor layout changes and major backend changes that should improve the efficiency of the site.
Many thanks to Charlene for featuring my Camry Hybrid Cutaway Illustration and my website on Illustrophile. My work is in good company on her blog.
