MIT Mystery Hunt

Art Direction, Branding, Illustration, Hand Lettering

Client: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Branding illustrations for the MIT Mystery Hunt, an annual puzzle event held over MLK weekend. The primary role was to lead art direction and develop a modular illustration system that could adapt to different environments. Working closely with the event team and developers, over 30 illustrations were designed to be flexible, puzzle-like, and easily integrated throughout the event website.

Process

The illustration process mixes together the best of traditional methods and digital techniques. Each illustration started as a sketch on 11”x17” printer paper that was then traced using a lightbox and black color pencil on a bristol sheet. The final line drawing was then scanned and colored and textured are added using Adobe Photoshop. During this stage is when each image is made to become modular. Sometimes many different drawings were made and then collaged together to make the final primary design, like the Arbor Day example below.