During 2008-2009 I was commissioned to produce 24 covers for the Lancet Medical Journal. This commission was probably as a result of work that I had done for New Scientist a year earlier. The first 12 focussed on 'Neurology', while the second twelve focussed on 'Infectious Diseases' (this period coincided with the outbreak of swine flu). Each cover illustration centred on one of the papers being published that month by medical scientists. The intention was to visually enrich what might be perceived as a superficially 'dry' subject. The articles and papers were of course of international significance. The illustrations are specifically conceptual in nature and refer to key aspects of the articles being covered and as such required careful research on my part to ensure that I was in no way contradicting or hearing away from what were quite often very complex subjects. Symbolism and metaphor were often strategies that were utilised within solutions, as were shifts and reversals in scale.
The Neurology covers were included within an exhibition at the Slade Research Centre
in London during 2009 entitled 'The Brain Unravelled'. A selection of the covers are
featured here.
The Neurology covers were included within an exhibition at the Slade Research Centre
in London during 2009 entitled 'The Brain Unravelled'. A selection of the covers are
featured here.
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for the Lancet Neurology (2009)
The solution centers on'Family Aggregation Studies' and 'Twin Studies' (the inheritance of genes) Twotwins or siblings look at each other through the double helix of DNA. Theirsimilar chromosomes can easily be seen. There is a suggestion in the backgroundthat their brain activity is being monitored by an ECG (sensors are attached totheir foreheads. On the horizon line(the top of the dark area) figures can be seen walking towards the DNA helix.Some are climbing up the 'ladders' of the DNA. These figures might makereference to the inheritance of genes (family tree diagram can just be seen).Or they might be the group that the twins/siblings results are tested against.Neurons can be seen mimicing trees on the horizon. Another subtle reference isthe use of the neuron shape to suggest an 'explosion' of epilepsy in the brainsof the twins.
Cover illustration for the Lancet Neurology (2009)
The solution centers on'Family Aggregation Studies' and 'Twin Studies' (the inheritance of genes) Twotwins or siblings look at each other through the double helix of DNA. Theirsimilar chromosomes can easily be seen. There is a suggestion in the backgroundthat their brain activity is being monitored by an ECG (sensors are attached totheir foreheads. On the horizon line(the top of the dark area) figures can be seen walking towards the DNA helix.Some are climbing up the 'ladders' of the DNA. These figures might makereference to the inheritance of genes (family tree diagram can just be seen).Or they might be the group that the twins/siblings results are tested against.Neurons can be seen mimicing trees on the horizon. Another subtle reference isthe use of the neuron shape to suggest an 'explosion' of epilepsy in the brainsof the twins.
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2009)
Here a figure walks on atightrope into an area of the brain, that represents the cerebellar. He carries keys that symbolise CT andPET scans as a balancing aid and heads towards the keyhole which represents the medical advances discussed in the previous rough. Thechallenge the man has of negotiating the tightrope refers again to thedifficulties of diagnoses but also refers to the 'cerebellar' being the area ofthe brain that is largely responsible for co-ordinated movement (sufferers ofPNDs experiencing problems in this area).
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2009)
Here a figure walks on atightrope into an area of the brain, that represents the cerebellar. He carries keys that symbolise CT andPET scans as a balancing aid and heads towards the keyhole which represents the medical advances discussed in the previous rough. Thechallenge the man has of negotiating the tightrope refers again to thedifficulties of diagnoses but also refers to the 'cerebellar' being the area ofthe brain that is largely responsible for co-ordinated movement (sufferers ofPNDs experiencing problems in this area).
Editorial Illustration
Cover Illustration for Lancet Neurology (2009)
A silhouetted figure of a woman stands in theforeground. It is clear that she is suffering from a severe headache,symbolised by the tangled mass of lines in her head. These marks bleed out ofher to form a dark foreboding cloud that hangs over her, emphasing theoppressive nature of the headache. The contrasting white clouds in the distancealso help with this. It is clear that she is looking at a target in thedistance on which is a profile of a generic head (this can be discardedif you feel it is too much of a cliche). Her intention is to hit the target andthereby target the pain. To her left a bow can just be seen lying on thefloor. The target motif is repeated subtley throughout the image. These servetwo purposes, one to help compositionally tie the image together and secondlyto suggest that the target moves and is perhaps difficult to hit. One smalltarget sits directly ontop of the shadow of the woman's head. These targetsalso visually echo the throbbing nature of a headache.
Cover Illustration for Lancet Neurology (2009)
A silhouetted figure of a woman stands in theforeground. It is clear that she is suffering from a severe headache,symbolised by the tangled mass of lines in her head. These marks bleed out ofher to form a dark foreboding cloud that hangs over her, emphasing theoppressive nature of the headache. The contrasting white clouds in the distancealso help with this. It is clear that she is looking at a target in thedistance on which is a profile of a generic head (this can be discardedif you feel it is too much of a cliche). Her intention is to hit the target andthereby target the pain. To her left a bow can just be seen lying on thefloor. The target motif is repeated subtley throughout the image. These servetwo purposes, one to help compositionally tie the image together and secondlyto suggest that the target moves and is perhaps difficult to hit. One smalltarget sits directly ontop of the shadow of the woman's head. These targetsalso visually echo the throbbing nature of a headache.
Editorial Illustration
Cover Illustration for Lancet Neurology 2008
To symbolise the processof 'brain imaging' in generic terms I have used a magnifying glass. Suggestionsof symbols that relate to CT, MRI, SPECT and PET scans more closely, sit in andaround the profile of the head. The concentric circles are the cross section ofa CT scanner (bringing a subtle visual link with the first cover). The curvinglines are the movements of electrons and positrons. The graph of future imagingcan be seen subtely on the top right. The 'wiggly' lines represent the journeyof the positron/photon. just outside of the lens of the magnifying glass can beenseen scans of the amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Inside the lens these imagesare greatly enhanced, thus representing the advanced future of imagingtechnology. The figure in the foreground could be a neurosurgeonor perhaps aprofessor of neurology pointing to the clear and strong image of the brain.
Cover Illustration for Lancet Neurology 2008
To symbolise the processof 'brain imaging' in generic terms I have used a magnifying glass. Suggestionsof symbols that relate to CT, MRI, SPECT and PET scans more closely, sit in andaround the profile of the head. The concentric circles are the cross section ofa CT scanner (bringing a subtle visual link with the first cover). The curvinglines are the movements of electrons and positrons. The graph of future imagingcan be seen subtely on the top right. The 'wiggly' lines represent the journeyof the positron/photon. just outside of the lens of the magnifying glass can beenseen scans of the amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Inside the lens these imagesare greatly enhanced, thus representing the advanced future of imagingtechnology. The figure in the foreground could be a neurosurgeonor perhaps aprofessor of neurology pointing to the clear and strong image of the brain.
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
I have used a crystal ball to suggest that the useof biomarkers helps predict/forecast various types of dementia in the elderly.At the centre of the crystal ball is the profile of what clearly is an elderlyman with a walking stick. Around him are examples of biomarkers. These andother related images move around him and also spiral out of the crystal ball.They are macromolecules, genes, taus, Apolipoprotein E, DNA etc. The hands ofthe 'soothsayer' are also hands of the specialist neurologist (perhaps thereadership). The crystal ball is being studied through a microscope placing theimage firmly in the realm of science. The glass ball will 'glow' throwing lighton the dark surroundings and also on the subject of dementia in the elderly.
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
I have used a crystal ball to suggest that the useof biomarkers helps predict/forecast various types of dementia in the elderly.At the centre of the crystal ball is the profile of what clearly is an elderlyman with a walking stick. Around him are examples of biomarkers. These andother related images move around him and also spiral out of the crystal ball.They are macromolecules, genes, taus, Apolipoprotein E, DNA etc. The hands ofthe 'soothsayer' are also hands of the specialist neurologist (perhaps thereadership). The crystal ball is being studied through a microscope placing theimage firmly in the realm of science. The glass ball will 'glow' throwing lighton the dark surroundings and also on the subject of dementia in the elderly.
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology
A young child climbs whatappears to be a tree. This tree forms the shape of abrain. The branches are made from arteries and veins thatsupply the brain (would be red on artwork). The child is striving toreach a kite that appears to be stuck in a darker areaof the tree. This area represent an 'infarct' orarea of the brain tissue that has died due to alack of blood flow or a 'thrombus' (thisultimately being the cause of the stroke). This risky scenario iscreating a air of tension/anxiety amongstthe boy's family who watch from below. The pramfocusses our attention on the artcle relating tochildren. The whole concept comesfrom finding an activity that children do (climbingtrees) and then making a visual relationship with thecause of the stroke, in this case the flow (or lack of)through the veins/arteries of the brain.
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology
A young child climbs whatappears to be a tree. This tree forms the shape of abrain. The branches are made from arteries and veins thatsupply the brain (would be red on artwork). The child is striving toreach a kite that appears to be stuck in a darker areaof the tree. This area represent an 'infarct' orarea of the brain tissue that has died due to alack of blood flow or a 'thrombus' (thisultimately being the cause of the stroke). This risky scenario iscreating a air of tension/anxiety amongstthe boy's family who watch from below. The pramfocusses our attention on the artcle relating tochildren. The whole concept comesfrom finding an activity that children do (climbingtrees) and then making a visual relationship with thecause of the stroke, in this case the flow (or lack of)through the veins/arteries of the brain.
Editorial Illustration
Cover for Lancet Infectious Diseases (2009)
Cover for Lancet Infectious Diseases (2009)
Editorial Illustration
Cover for Lancet Infectious Diseases (2009)
Cover for Lancet Infectious Diseases (2009)
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
All three use the female / male symbols as avehicle for conveying the different sexes. Rough 2 shows an older woman walkingup a path towards old age (the path is also a series of blood vessels with thepotential for thrombosis). She is isolated or trapped at the junction of threefemale symbols. Heading down a different path is an elderly man pushing themale symbol. In all three images graph paper reminds us of statistics. There isalso reference to atrial fibrilation with subtle examples of ECG. In rough 3 aquestion mark appears at the intersection of the two symbols highlighting the centraltheme of the article.
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
All three use the female / male symbols as avehicle for conveying the different sexes. Rough 2 shows an older woman walkingup a path towards old age (the path is also a series of blood vessels with thepotential for thrombosis). She is isolated or trapped at the junction of threefemale symbols. Heading down a different path is an elderly man pushing themale symbol. In all three images graph paper reminds us of statistics. There isalso reference to atrial fibrilation with subtle examples of ECG. In rough 3 aquestion mark appears at the intersection of the two symbols highlighting the centraltheme of the article.
Editorial Illustration
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
Cover illustration for Lancet Neurology (2008)
