Dr. Seuss Potty-Scooter

Refining the concept is all about nailing the subtleties of visual storytelling to send the right message to your target market. 

These Dr. Seuss-esque illustrations are a prime example of the impact a visual makes on the message. The creative’s concept was a fun, lighthearted approach to the more serious problem of incontinence and it’s limiting effects on people’s mobility. 

I had so much fun designing a Dr. Seuss inspired “potty-scooter” and matching environment, but it wasn’t until I sat the realistically drawn woman on the scooter that I realized the first illustration sent the wrong message. 

Rather than a sense of freedom from her affliction, she looked more inhibited by it, as if she was literally “on the go” at all times and could not be parted from her toilet - not good!

After a rehash of the visual concept, the creative and I arrived at the second illustration. Thus, the old lady that lived in the toilet was free to live her life unfettered by her incontinence - the right message!

And we all lived happily ever after.

A Thank You In Retrospect

"If you think you can’t do it… you’re right! YOU can’t!"

These words were framed and hung on the wall behind the desk of the art director for Good Housekeeping Magazine Bruce Danbrot. He looked this very green illustrator dead in the eye, pointed to the sign, and handed me my first assignment for the magazine. Decades later, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I haven’t been confronted with seemingly unsolvable creative problems in the industry. Thanks, Bruce, or showing me the way! 

(Image below - my first pulp pages for Good Housekeeping, back in the days of gravure printing.)

HBO's Veep

The sixth season of HBO's Veep premieres this week. The hilarious comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus is in it's sixth season. Here are just a couple of the conceptual sketches the Outlines team worked up for the hit series.

Bates Motel Season 5

A&E’s long running thriller “Bates Motel” has been a particular favorite of Outlines Inc. because we have worked on all of the Iconic imagery associated with the hit series since the shows inception five seasons ago! Check out the dramatic side by side samples and see how closely the end result emulates the conceptual illustration produced by Chris and the team at Outlines.

HBO’s Big Little Lies

Academy Award winners Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, along with ‘Divergent’ veteran Shailene Woodley, star in HBO’s new comedy drama ‘Big Little Lies’. With great star power comes great responsibility. It was important for the creatives to come up with great concepts, but it was Outlines Inc.’s job to make them look great. Therefore, likenesses had to be on target for the stars’ approval. Thankfully Chris’ background is firmly based in celebrity portraiture for the entertainment industry. Add to that the traditionally trained painters and expert digital artists that comprise the Outlines team and all work gets approved easily. Everyone goes home happy!