Iconography

Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing" ... so says that tried and trusted quick online reference that I would only use for this blog and not as a professional source (of course) – Wikipedia. It pretty much says it all. The visual explainer to icons has to be immediate.

Quickies

These are a selection of graphics that I didn't have a lot of time to invest in an elaborate production. Working in the news industry can at times be like a game of Pictionary. When you are handed the assignment, the challenge is to knock it out in a timeframe that will convey the image convincingly to the viewer for the win.

Repurposing the Gulf Stream

Engineers have found a way to redirect the energy of the Gulf Stream into a usable energy source. The concept is very similar to how turbines convert wind into energy.

This graphic was a "spot" graphic which means the news was for the news cycle you were working and had to be completed on your shift. I just remember pushing to get it done quickly to get it out to members and making sure that it all made sense.

A really expensive seed vault

This was a really interesting feature story on preserving seeds so future generations would have certain foods. The seed vault provides insurance against the loss of seeds, as well as a refuge for seeds in the case of large scale regional or a global crisis. Very thought provoking.


The illustration uses an isometric design of the vaults. The map was generated using Map Studio (an online GIS system).

The perfect swimsuit for your shape

Any woman can tell you how daunting it can be to select a swimsuit that compliments your unique body. This informational graphic assists in helping determine your shape first and understanding the newest swimsuit styles that compliment it.

This assignment uses fun fonts and pastel summer colors to help convey the season.

New CPR guidelines

These step-by-step health graphics are so popular as you can imagine, especially if the rendering is presented simply and the text is edited really tightly.

The American Heart Association released the new guidelines early in the day and I worked with the medical reporter and editor to get this out as soon as possible. The new process states to directly apply chest compressions to keep oxygenated blood flowing through the body, especially to the brain, skipping the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Here is the earlier version of this process I did before the new guidelines were released. It ran for weeks as an "Editors' Pick" on Yahoo! News.

The perfect Christmas bows

The assignment here was to create a process graphic showing how to tie a Christmas bow using cloth ribbon that actually looks like one made by a professional gift wrapper (if there is such an occupation).

The images were drawn in Illustrator but because hands were involved and knowing how tricky it can be to draw these, photographs were taken of me holding the ribbon. The photos were then scanned and drawn, adjusting the illustration accordingly for the best representation for the particular step. As with most of my assignments, I wrote the headline and text.

An video for online broadcast was made with this particular package of me making the "pompom" and "florist" bow. Very Martha - a good thing!

Carving the Thanksgiving turkey

Knowing how to carve the bird at Thanksgiving is not only an essential skill to have but an honor in most households. This informational graphic gives basic tips on getting the job done and handy tips on making the annual event less frantic.

I contacted the National Turkey Federation media representative for the information for this assignment and came up with the layout and illustration for the package.

Napkin folding 101

The "Napkin Folding" assignment was for the upcoming holiday gatherings. Putting together a beautiful table for family and friends at Thanksgiving and Christmas is made all the more special complimented with an attractive display of cloth napkins.

I illustrated the how-to icons, shot the photography for this and provided the text for this. The icons were drawn in Adobe Illustrator and the color selection was kept to a minimum so as not to over-power any other photos that were in the package.