Wired Italia Cover December '21
Brief
This brief was originally to do an internal illustration for Wired Italia's 'PLAY' special. A quarterly issue focussing on some of the current sport, entertainment and tech trends going on now, or coming soon. It was to be isometric, and celebrate geek culture. After seeing a rough, the client put it forward as a cover. After that was completed, they offered me a chance to extend the illustration further to a full-wrap cover. I love it when briefs grow like this!
Cover Extension
After completing the cover, a very happy art director asked if I wanted to instead make it a full wrap. There wasn't as much time to draw three extra flaps, so they suggested a minimal approach. It was a nice opportunity to get in ideas I had, but had dropped from the original cover due to space constraints.
Process
Originally, I had just over a week to complete this job, so didn't want to spend too much time on a rough. My approach was to just draw as much as possible and keep adding detail until the deadline. The client let me be pretty free in terms of what I wanted to add, and I just sent them updates every couple of days.
My roughs are generally pretty messy, but isometric roughs are even worse. I was suprised when they suggested they'd put it forward for the cover. They really trusted me from an early stage.
Just kept on adding details before the deadline
Even though some items would be obscured, I drew everything completely, so I could rearrange the page or reuse elements later
Buildings were projected and interiors added after, so I could move people and furniture around. With the arcade cabinet, I liked the idea of furniture creating the controls.
One of the funnest parts of the job was inserting easter eggs, like the 6 ? Blocks, movie references, the most minimal DUNE poster, Assassins. and Rick Sanchez
And here's my messy artboard and all the layers for those who are into seeing this stuff... this is version H.
I often try and tidy up between each version
I often try and tidy up between each version
Assets from the illustration would also be lifted, to be re-used in section numbers.
The lifted assets generally related to articles in each chapter.
