On the Go

Working on assignment has its challenges and rewards. The isolation of working in a studio is what an artist needs to be productive, but it can also result in negative thoughts and loneliness. I've been dealing with this dynamic for decades, and I make a conscious effort to get outside, go cycling, or meet with friends. While that used to be easy, living in pandemic conditions takes more time and effort to make connections.

It's been a challenging year for so many. I feel fortunate to have kept busy and productive in 2020, to work with art directors and interesting topics. Here's a few of my favourite editorial art assignments:

I worked with Darin Johnson at Car and Driver, on the miraculous mileage results for Tesla vehicles. We decided to develop kind of perpetual motion treadmill. Oh man, I rolled up my sleeves and dove into this one! Here's the spread:

Another technology-related article, for the Washington Post, about using AI to rewire the brain to connect with moving prosthetics. If the science continues to make progress at current rates, exoskeletons and prosthetics could allow spinal injury patients to walk again.

Of course, the Covid crisis is something we've endured this year, doing our best to stay safe and healthy. I worked on this assignment for the New York Times, about a post-covid economic recovery. A pleasure to work with AD Alla Dreyvitser on this.

Surveillance

It's an uneasy subject. Something that we live with everyday. We connect, we locate, search and communicate. Ask any question and a response pops up immediately. Remember that obscure reference but can't place it? It's right there on your mobile device.

On a personal level, I have serious misgivings about carrying around a tracking device that can plot your every move, your shopping patterns and queries, who your friends are and what you 'like'. But it's a part of our modern lives. What are the implications, good and bad?

What's your comfort level?

I worked on this full-page article for Security Management magazine. Thanks to art directors Roy Comiskey and Elizabeth Lankes.

Covering your Assets

I could really use this technology. I lose my keys all the time. RFID tracking allows manufacturers and businesses to locate and track their assets during the manufacturing process, in transit and in storage or inventory.

I decided to keep things simple in this illustration, showing location in different context through the supply chain. I used an isometric perspective so that the message wouldn't get lost in the details. I have worked with art diretor Roy Comiskey on a number of tech-related articles, and I always enjoy the challenge of bringing new elements to the work.

Here's the piece in the final layout.

Fix-it Squad

Last month I dropped my iPhone while cycling. I didn't realize it at the time, so when I retraced my ride, I found it in the middle of the road. Smashed beyond repair. We become attached to our devices, I was pretty shaken by the ordeal, but called my carrier and got a replacement. Crisis averted. 

I was working on this assignment at the time. The illustration is for Hemispheres Magazine, and art director Christine Bower. iFixit.com is a website that provides service manuals and instructions for maintaining, repairing and upgrading electronics and other day-to-day gadgets. It's a great idea and is run by a guy with my last name, Kyle Wiens. Bravo! Let's all take better care of the stuff we have.

Connectivity

A recent piece for the New Jersey Institute of Technology's magazine. I worked with designer Claude Skelton on this cover assignment. Data management can be tricky - the objective is to unify information from various disciplines (environment, bioscience and technology) smoothly and efficiently.

I received a call from Manny Velez at the Wall Street Journal for a feature called 'Anatomy of a Song'. After throwing around a few concepts we agreed using my mechanical collage would be a good way to convey the idea.