CTE & CONCUSSION RELATED INJURIES
Client | NPR
Art Direction: Emily Bogle
I was asked to create a series of collages to accompany an online article about CTE as an illness that can only be diagnosed after someone has died and they have an autopsy.
The crux of the article was that many people believe they have symptoms of CTE but they can’t get a confirmed diagnosis.
Additionally, the current lack of medical intervention has many people turning to supplements that don’t have a clear medical purpose.
READING THE BRIEF
Step One: I read (and reread) the brief and, if available, an advanced copy of the article . I usually read the article (or brief) three times, each time looking for something different.
First Read: Just reading, like you would as if you were someone that picked up the magazine and are reading it on the plane, waiting at the doctors office, etc.
Second Read: I am reading backwards to front (and old trick from my intelligence officer days), by reading the article this way I am able to pull out more salient points - what are key ideas that are being talked about. Reading it backwards forces me to slowly analyze the framework. I am also taking notes at this point. I am writing down words, synonyms, imagery ideas, antonyms.
Third Read: I am sketching, in my mind, on paper or the iPad. Its rough - very rough scribbles for me and me alone. Depending on where the final artwork is going to live, I am looking at how I can create a story in the given size parameters and also how people are going to digest the information. Reading and viewing in a magazine and online are two totally different things, and thus my artwork has to adjust for that.
Writing down words, ideas, and some sketches of ideas.
Some sketches within the 16x9 in art format for the article.
SKETCHING IT OUT
Below are first draft sketches of the collages. The article called for ONE 16x9 banner image and TWO square spot images. I began exploring imagery for ideas of being “broken/fractured” and also incorporating images of MRI scans of the brain, medicine, and the sports of football and ice hockey.
A note on image sources: Some of the images are provided to me by the client. In the case of editorial work the magazines have access to stock imagery sites like Getty, Alamy, etc. There are other online imagery sources that I often use that have vintage images where there are no copyright attachments to them and I use these sources as well.
I additionally like to add other textural elements to the images (either halftones, scratches of pencil markers, glitches, etc.) so that the image has the illusion of depth - and in turn draws the reader into the story and article.
During the sketch phase screen grabs from the stock imagery sites are used for concept purposes.
DRAFT 16x9 COLLAGE
DRAFT 16x9 COLLAGE
DRAFT 16x9 COLLAGE
DRAFT SPOT ILLUSTRATION
DRAFT SPOT ILLUSTRATION
DRAFT SPOT ILLUSTRATION
