Chemical Codebreakers and Signatures from the Past in the cover of Caltech's magazine (Fall 2024).
The Fall 2024 cover of Caltech Magazine, featuring my mosaics of extinct species, has been recognized at the UCDA Design Awards.
This project was especially meaningful to me. I worked closely with paleontologists, geochemists, geobiologists, and a brilliant team of scientists who provided sketches and 3D models of the ground sloth, dinosaur, penguin, and other ancient creatures. My role was to transform these references into mosaics, ensuring that the representations were both scientifically accurate and visually compelling. Even the tesserae — the tiny pieces that form the mosaics — were designed to echo isotopes, the very tools scientists use to unlock Earth’s history.
For the execution, I combined several techniques and tools:
Synthetik Studio Artist, a beloved program I’ve used for over 20 years, is now being discontinued. Its creator, John Dalton, has had a profound influence on my own software experiments.
Tsevis Mozaix (my custom tool) and Photoshop to refine and perfect the mosaics.
And even some GenAI explorations in ComfyUI, which helped me quickly test isotopic textures and surface treatments.
In many ways, working on this felt like being both an artist and a paleontologist.
More broadly, this award reminded me how much I value my long relationship with academia. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with institutions such as Harvard, Rockefeller, Georgetown, Dartmouth, NYIT, Emerson College, and several campuses of the University of California, including San Francisco, San Diego, and, of course, Caltech. Academic publishing demands precision, patience, and a meticulous attention to detail, and I consider it one of the most rewarding environments for creative work.
Now, a word about awards: I don’t really believe in them. Comparing creative projects has never felt right to me. But I am always happy when my collaborators receive recognition. If my work can support their vision and highlight the importance of science, that’s enough reason to celebrate.
So congratulations to Jenny Somerville and the Caltech Magazine team. Academia, despite all its challenges, remains one of the most promising, humble, and constructive parts of our society — and I am grateful to play even a small role in its storytelling.
Read more about the UCDA Awards and the Caltech magazine's awarded cover.