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Figures for NNF Challenge grant application

““Susanne is professional, thorough, and efficiently delivers high-quality work on time. Her illustrations have enhanced a wide range of my academic outputs.””
— Camilla Schéele, Associate Professor and Group Leader, Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen

Client

Camilla Schéele, Associate Professor and Group Leader, Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen

Logo of Jülich Research Center.

What it was all about

Professor Wierckx and his research group had a paper accepted in Nature Microbiology and were invited to submit a cover proposal. Their study focused on engineering the bacterium P. putida to metabolize nylon - an innovation with potential to improve recycling by turning nylon waste into feedstock for biotechnological processes.

Wierckxr envisioned a cover illustration showing a degrading nylon fishing net being taken up by a bacterium and entering its metabolic network. This concept cleverly plays on the visual similarity between fishing nets and classical representations of metabolic pathways.

A scientific diagram titled 'Mood board: from fishing net to metabolic network' shows various types of fishing nets, some degraded plastic bottles, and a detailed metabolic pathway map with colored pathways and schematic diagrams of bacterial cells and viral structures.

Client’s representation of the concept and idea.

Solution

In close collaboration with the client, I created a 3D illustration which captures the concept in a visually enticing way suitable for a high-profile journal cover.

The proposal received very positive feedback from the journal editors, but unfortunately they picked a different cover in the end.

Even so, the client was delighted by the result and was able to use it in their own promotional material and media outreach.

A short video giving an overview of the creative process. Explore further insights in the Process section below.

Process

  • 1. Thumbnails

    I drew five small, quick sketches to test out different compositions.

    I included a mockup of the journal title to make sure that the cover layout would be an integral part of the composition from the beginning.

    Five thumbnail sketches showing a bacterium metabolizing a fishing net. The sketches depict different compositions of the same idea.

  • 2. Moodboard

    I put together a collection of inspirational images to represent different visual styles and colour schemes.

    A moodboard collage of various images related to microbiology, including microscopic views of microorganisms, scientific diagrams, and abstract visuals of water and microbial structures.

  • 3. Decision time

    Based on the thumbnails and moodboard, the client decided on a composition and visual direction.

    In terms of medium, we agreed that a 3D render was the way to go in order to achieve the look and level of detail envisioned.

    A moodboard collage of various images related to microbiology, including microscopic views of microorganisms, scientific diagrams, and abstract visuals of water and microbial structures., with a red scribble highlighting a section of the collage.

  • 4. Detailed sketches

    Before beginning 3D production, I created detailed sketches to ensure that the client and I agreed on the content, colors, and composition.

    The client selected the light color scheme without the larger ropes in the foreground.

    Four detailed sketches of a cover proposal for Nature Microbiology.

  • 5. Early production

    I started building the 3D scene, populating it with objects, lights, and a camera. I also started putting everything together in my photo editing software to add colors adjustments, background, and other effects.

    I sent the client an early preview, allowing us to make adjustments before the final detailed work began.

    3D illustration work-in-progress of a bacterium metabolizing a nylon fishing net.

  • 6. Final image

    The final cover proposal.

    A digital illustration of a bacterium metabolizing a nylon fishing net, created as a cover proposal for the journal 'Nature Microbiology'.