OVERVIEW
Scientific Illustration Series Showing Brain Systems at Work
ROLE
Medical Illustation, Visualization
TOOLS
Maya, Photoshop, In-house Brain Models
Nat Geo 3D Brain Illustrations
about.
For National Geographic’s March 2005 cover story “What’s in Your Mind,” I collaborated with neuroscientists and magazine editors to visualize brain activity with clarity and emotional depth. The lead image depicted a fear response to a spider, showing visual, spatial, memory, and emotional brain systems at work. Eight additional illustrations revealed how distinct areas of the brain support navigation, music, facial recognition, autism, hypergraphia, vision, fear, and meditation.
challenge.
Translating complex brain functions into imagery that felt both accurate and approachable was a delicate balance. The illustrations needed to clearly depict individual brain regions involved in emotion, perception, and behavior, while remaining digestible and visually compelling for a broad audience. I researched neuroimaging modalities and reviewed existing scientific graphics, considering how to make 3D brain anatomy instantly understandable to non-specialists. Each image also needed to reflect National Geographic’s signature visual style: precise, vivid, and emotionally resonant. My goal was to uphold scientific rigor while capturing the imagination of curious readers.
action.
I carefully selected each brain region in 3D, working from anatomical references and scientific feedback. To convey activation, I layered textures and lighting that suggested electrical activation in the brain. Close collaboration with researchers ensured every detail aligned with current neuroscience while remaining emotionally engaging for a general audience.
result.
The illustrations appeared within the magazine’s cover article, reaching over 10 million readers in print and another 14 million online. The full series helped bring neuroscience into popular awareness, translating research into accessible, evocative imagery.
final thoughts.
I’m deeply honored to have contributed to this landmark publication. This project taught me that precision and wonder can coexist. When data guides our brush, we can create images that not only inform but also ignite curiosity about how our bodies work.
