GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION
Pollute: Editorial Illustration
This hypothetical editorial illustration responds to a New York Times article examining how urban pollution impacts bird coloration. Using typography alone, the piece visualizes the gradual loss of vibrancy in city birds compared to their rural counterparts. The project explores restraint, hierarchy, and metaphor through limited language and form.
This piece was awarded a spot in RIT's Visual Exhibition 2025, a juried showcase of graduate work. Click below to view.
VIEW EXHIBITION
Project Type:
Graphic Design, Illustration
Role:
Graphic Designer/Illustrator
Tools:
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefly
Timeline:
3 weeks
01
The Assignment
Pick an article from the New York Times and design an editorial illustration using only typography for it, limited to one to two words.
My chosen article is about how urban birds are losing their vibrant colors in comparison to rural birds due to urban pollution.
02
My Approach
The image needed to communicate the idea of pollution acting as plumage in a simple yet striking way while still having an organic feel. After pitching my sketches and getting critiques from peers, I decided to go with the falling feather motif sketch as my initial direction, switching from a hand-drawn to a more realistic effect.
I decided that the words "Pollution" and "Plumage" look similar, especially when whimsically written on feathers.
Most successful approach was individually generating letters using Adobe Firefly and manually kerning them.
03
Results & Takeaways
The final piece features the editorial illustration at a 3:2 ratio that conveys the complex ides of the article in a dynamic yet impactful way. The work uses a minimal amount of feathers to maintain simplicity while the light blue to a darker blue-gray 'gradient' reflects the transition that the urban bird’s feathers undergo over time
White background makes the word stand out to catch the audience’s attention without giving away too much
Made using Adobe Firefly, Photoshop and Illustrator
GRAPHIC DESIGN, ILLUSTRATION
Pollute: Editorial Illustration
This hypothetical editorial illustration responds to a New York Times article examining how urban pollution impacts bird coloration. Using typography alone, the piece visualizes the gradual loss of vibrancy in city birds compared to their rural counterparts. The project explores restraint, hierarchy, and metaphor through limited language and form.
This piece was awarded a spot in RIT's Visual Exhibition 2025, a juried showcase of graduate work. Click below to view.
VIEW EXHIBITION
Project Type:
Graphic Design, Illustration
Role:
Graphic Designer
Tools:
Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Firefly
Timeline:
3 weeks
01
The Assignment
Pick an article from the New York Times and design an editorial illustration using only typography for it, limited to one to two words.
My chosen article is about how urban birds are losing their vibrant colors in comparison to rural birds due to urban pollution.
02
My Approach
The image needed to communicate the idea of pollution acting as plumage in a simple yet striking way while still having an organic feel. After pitching my sketches and getting critiques from peers, I decided to go with the falling feather motif sketch as my initial direction, switching from a hand-drawn to a more realistic effect.
I decided that the words "Pollution" and "Plumage" look similar, especially when whimsically written on feathers.
Most successful approach was individually generating letters using Adobe Firefly and manually kerning them.
03
Results
The final piece features the editorial illustration at a 3:2 ratio that conveys the complex ides of the article in a dynamic yet impactful way. The work uses a minimal amount of feathers to maintain simplicity while the light blue to a darker blue-gray 'gradient' reflects the transition that the urban bird’s feathers undergo over time
White background makes the word stand out to catch the audience’s attention without giving away too much
Made using Adobe Firefly, Photoshop and Illustrator