Case Study: Digital Illustration

This illustration was designed as a poster to promote awareness of the value that native plants and pollinators provide to human well-being. A hand emerging from a collage of flowering plants tells a visual story of our connection to nature and how our actions have consequences. The pollinators interacting with the flowers, and the words fading in and out of the design, further convey the message: we must preserve our natural surroundings to thrive.

Design Process

Before figuring out what design would be best for this poster project, I researched and brainstormed the topic of native plants and pollinators to figure out the best solution. Part of the constraints on the project was to create an image emerging from other smaller images. Below are photos from my sketchbook capturing my creative process.

I prefer using handmade elements in my designs. Here is the final illustration done in Sharpie on tracing paper. It was edited and digitized using Photoshop and Illustrator.

My initial design was created with two color layers: cyan and yellow. Another added challenge to this project was preparing the .ai file to print on a Riso printer in our design lab at De Anza College. There were limitations with the color choices in the end, but it was an interesting process to learn about and experience in the end.