Have you ever wondered how spiders end up on remote islands? Mesa Studios‘ recent infographic and scientific illustration collaboration with Editor Daisy Chung explores how spider silk, electrostatic force, and a light breeze contributes to dispersing spiders across the globe. As developing graphics for National Geographic involves extensively researching scientific concepts, translating these concepts through data visualisation, and making sure to create visuals easily-digested by a variety of audiences, this project demonstrates Mesa Studios’ expertise in both scientific communication and visual storytelling.

National Geographic Soaring Spiders creation

Lots of research and work goes into @NatGeoMag graphics. Slowly an #infographic with #illustration and #dataviz emerges from ideas and science. I try and answer questions I'd like to see answered and be true to the #science – what we know and what we don't. For our #graphic on #spiders and #electricfields we started with the primary scientific literature, and interviewing experts on the subject. We tried to be as accurate as possible with the #art, making sure our spider species anatomy and posture were correct.Some ideas don't make it to the final graphic – there just isn't enough space to say everything! #Scicomm is all about #storytelling. We try to engage the reader with the root concepts without overwhelming with too much #data and jargon. Thanks for collaboration @daisychungart#sciart #medart

Posted by Mesa Studios on Thursday, May 9, 2019

 

Founder of Mesa Studios,  Mesa Schumacher, comments:

For our graphic on spiders and electric-fields, we started with the primary scientific literature, and interviewing experts on the subject. We tried to be as accurate as possible with the art, making sure our spider species anatomy and posture were correct. Some ideas don’t make it to the final graphic – there just isn’t enough space to say everything! Science communication is all about storytelling. We try to engage the reader with the root concepts without overwhelming with too much data and jargon.

Mesa Studios is a boutique illustration and animation studio that specialises in medical, scientific, and information visualisation. Principal artist Mesa Schumacher holds a science degree from Stanford, a Masters in Biomedical Illustration from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and has over 10 years working experience creating scientific art.

For more work samples, view Mesa Studios’ portfolio here.