The Comps That Did (And Didn't!) Make It

Sometimes you work on a project and it all clicks... the concept is on target, the visuals work, and wham! you've hit a home run. You've helped create an iconic image that will represent a particular film or television series for eternity (or for whatever passes for eternity in this "flavor of the minute" industry).

Then again, some comps are just passing thoughts. However, that doesn't mean the work is not noteworthy!

HBO's "Divorce"

A&E's "Bate's Motel"

HBO's "Ballers"

Warner Bros'. "The House"

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.