The yellow brick road to the first rechargeable magnesium battery utilizing a borohydride

This was another illustration project received through Inner Circle Media in Ann Arbor back in August 2012.  Their client had a vision of the yellow brick road with older battery technology in the background and their new magnesium battery featured in the front.  She was very excited about her team's breakthrough.  A rough layout was created through a collaboration of the client's sketch and the IMC team.

The first sketch involved generic scientists in white lab coats.  The next version had the monkeys and a steampunkish female wizard since the client was a woman.  However she preferred a more traditional Wizard of Oz character. 

The client was very happy with the final product and it made the cover of Angewandte Chemie International Edition, volume 31, issue 39.  If you are interested to find out more about rechargeable magnesium batteries, you can find the article here accompanied by my illustration.

It would be easy for me to make a cheap comment about how hairy this level of chemistry is.  But it's this kind of unsung work that goes on by scientists and engineers around the world to try and make the world more efficient.  In this case another step has been made to improve batteries needed for electric cars of the future.

In the media today tech industries are equated with computers and the internet out in Silicone Valley.  I would argue tech industry term should be more encompassing and include the automotive industry.  Of course I am biased working on some the leading steering systems technology.  

Words to Mull & Cull #6 - Feeling Stuck

A kitsch atlas book

This illustrations was used on a postcard for Thomson-Shore, a publisher in Dexter, Michigan to promote their booth at the London Book Fair in 2011.  The job came to me from the fabulous people at Inner Circle Media in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

 

When the project was described to me I immediately thought of the flat, graphic styles of the late 1950's/ 1960's.  I decided to try sketching it up in Adobe Illustrator for two reasons.  One I am not comfortable drawing directly in Illustrator, which would force me to keep the shapes simple, and two I could focus on color and design.  Fortunately they loved the sketch.  Several adjustments later and voila!

Words to Mull & Cull #5 - Clouds (Preliminary)

I had two illustration projects come up this week, which is a rare thing for me.  When it rains it pours!  Ha!  This is why I wouldn't make it as a gag writer.  So settle for a WTM&C sketch this week.