Category Archives: Vector Illustration

Ameritech Paging Services Coverage Map

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Ameritech Mobile and Ameritech Paging were major wireless carriers headquartered in Chicago during the 1980′s as the cellular-mobile-paging market was in its infancy. These firms were an outgrowth and result of the old Bell Telco system before deregulation. Randal did a lot of illustration work for Ameritech Mobile and Ameritech Paging during the 1980′s and 1990′s including coverage maps like the one displayed here. These maps would be reprinted in brochures and flyers, as well as printed on larger display boards for display in retail locations.

Ameritech Mobile - Paging Coverage Map

Ameritech Paging Services - Great Lakes Area Coverage Map

Cutaway House

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Randal illustrated a typical house shown partially cutaway to reveal how Dale Industries/Incor steel framing products can be used in residential construction. The base line work was done in a 3D wireframe software, then transferred to Adobe Illustrator in a 2D format for adding color fills, line weights, captions and border framing.

House Cutaway

Skyscraper Perspective Wireframe

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This is another example of a 3D perspective wireframe done by Randal for fellow architectural perspectivist, Rael Slutsky. It is a view of a commercial office skyscraper design by architect Helmut Jahn. Randal and Rael collaborated and served together as members in an organization called the American Society of Architectural Perspectivists (ASAP) in the 1980′s.

Fountain Square Skyscraper - Helmut Jahn architect

Fountain Square Skyscraper - Helmut Jahn architect

The wireframe was printed and transferred to drawing paper, then used as the foundation for a finished architectural illustration.

3D Perspective Wireframe

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Randal purchased his first Macintosh computer in 1996 after seeing a simple 3D wireframe software running on one at a trade show. He realized how much time could be saved by building his 3D perspectives on a computer, rather than by the painstaking and time-consuming hand method.

In subsequent years, he developed a expert skill in using this software and often did 3D perspective wireframe diagrams like this one for his fellow architectural perspectivist, Rael Slutsky.

1520 N. Lake Shore Drive - 3D perspective wireframe

1520 N. Lake Shore Drive - 3D perspective wireframe

Randal would work from scale architectural plans and input the dimensions of the proposed building or space. Often, the building would be shown in context to other nearby buildings, which would also be built using scale drawings, maps and photos.

This final 3D perspective wireframe would be printed and then used as the foundation for a hand drawn and painted custom piece of art, usually provided to the architect, builder or developer client.

HALAN Diagram

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Computer Network Diagram

The Houston Area Library Association required a simple visual diagram to communicate how their library system would be upgraded an connected via emerging Internet based technologies. This diagram was developed by Randal Birkey in 1998 and created using Adobe Illustrator software on an Apple Macintosh computer using a Wacom tablet. This vector art style was delivered as a digital illustration file to the customer via email.

Network Diagram

Computer Network Diagram

IGA Hometown

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Randal created this “Hometown IGA” illustration for IGA International for use on the home page of their website in 1995. The image was placed into the HTML of the web page and an “image map” technique used to create links to other pages on the company website. This was one of the earliest projects Randal did that involved the Internet and the new world wide web. The image was created in Adobe Illustrator on a Macintosh computer.

IGA Hometown - company home page illustration

IGA Hometown - IGA company home page illustration

Insurance Company Publication

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CLIENT

Kemper Insurance
Chicago, Illinois

OBJECTIVE

Create a series of illustrations that communicate various potential areas of on the job insurance claim sources for use in a company publication.

SOLUTION

On the job injury process

On the job injury rehab process

On the job injury

On the job injury

Randal Birkey created a series of illustrations covering the process from an on the job injury, to the doctor visit, on to rehabilitation, and then back to work.

Contact Randal Birkey for all your corporate communication illustration needs.

Brinson Partners Annual Report Graphs

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Brinson Partners Financial Graph

Brinson Partners Financial Graph

Brinson Partners, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois

OBJECTIVE

The ad agency for Brinson Partners required a new approach to viewing typically boring financial graphs for an annual report.

SOLUTION

Randal Birkey created 3D versions of the graphs to increase visual interest to the layout and design of the report. The files were created and delivered in Adobe Illustrator format.

Queen Elizabeth II Deck Plans

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Queen Elizabeth II Deck Plans

Queen Elizabeth II Deck Plans

Client: Cunard Lines

Randal Birkey was contracted through a New York rep to provide digital line drawings of all the renovated Queen Elizabeth II deck plans, so that they would be compatible with, and able to be used in standard digital print design layout software.

Using the shipbuilding technical plans, Randal converted each deck plan to an Adobe Illustrator drawing that could be scaled to any size. These files were provided to Cunard designers to be used in various print pieces produced by the cruise line.