Visual Communication Information designers and graphic designers both create visual communication. The difference is that, whereas a graphic designer's strengths and priorities tend to be toward the aesthetic end of the spectrum, an information designer's strengths and priorities tend to be toward the analytical end of the spectrum. As an information designer, I usually mock up the solution to some communication problem, and other professionals then execute my design. But often it is appropriate for me to go ahead and draw the illustration/graphic myself. Sampling of illustrations CDs as photo/art developer Books as art/photo developer Stanford Magazine Logos I have designed Photography When appropriate, I can do the photography myself. Dozens of my photos have been published, and I have taught photography at publishing conferences in New York and Los Angeles. Sampling of photos Web sites and publications as photographer Teaching photography John Boykin, Creative Director 650-802-9998; info@wayfind.com   CDs as art/photo developer Mindscape "Student Reference Library," second edition Kerri Atwood, Associate Art Director for the project, wrote, "John Boykin was the photo editor for the second edition of our interactive CD 'Student Reference Library.' We had 1,100 photos in the previous edition; this time we needed to have 2,000. The first part of John's job was to decide which old photos to keep, which to replace, what to add, and what the priorities should be. He and I then went to New York together to select photos from our stock photo house."We relied heavily on John's visual and editorial judgment and were extremely pleased with the results. He made sure we got photos that were both visually excellent and editorially appropriate. He worked well with our own staff and with the stock house's staff, met all of his deadlines, and kept clear records that simplified our job."It was reassuring to have an experienced communication professional like John on the team. We were always confident that the photos were in good hands. The process went more smoothly and 'Student Reference Library' is a much better product for having had his touch." Cogito "Macroeconomics" My main job on Cogito Learning Media's CD "Intermediate Macroeconomics" was to generate concepts for interactive art and still art. That entailed coming up with the ideas in consultation with the author, storyboarding animations, selecting and specifying rough cuts of video, writing scripts for video and animation voice-overs, planning interactivity, drawing sketches for artists to execute, planning and approving photos, and checking everything for content and function. I can't show samples until the CD is actually released. I also contributed some art concepts to Cogito's CD "Biostatistics." The author of "Intermediate Macroeconomics," Brad De Long, wrote, "I would like to thank . . . especially John Boykin, who has an amazing eye for what visual depictions will and will not be effective to the ultimate user." Top of Visuals page | Wayfinding | Courtroom Graphics | Interaction Design | Words | Home   Books as art/photo developer For these books, I came up with the ideas for photos and illustrations to enhance and clarify the text. Based on my sketches and descriptions, photo researchers found existing pictures, photographers took new pictures, and artists drew illustrations. My approach is not merely to decorate pages, but to highlight and reinforce the text's main ideas. See a sampling of examples. Public Speaking: A Cultural Perspective, Second Ed., by Clella Jaffe, Wadsworth Publishing Inter-Act!, Eighth Ed., by Rudy and Kathy Verderber , Wadsworth Publishing (co-developer of photo and art program) Sociology: Discovering Society, by Jean Stockard, Wadsworth Publishing Abnormal Psychology: An Introduction, Second Ed., by Mark Durand and David Barlow, Brooks/Cole Publishing Introduction to Psychology, Fourth Ed., by James Kalat, Brooks/Cole Publishing, Approx. 800 items. The author wrote, "John Boykin worked vigorously and creatively to improve the already-outstanding set of figures and illustrations that he orchestrated for the third edition. The fact that I knew I could trust his judgment enabled me to delegate to him much of the work on the illustrations. He has developed illustrations that I consider creative, attractive, and educational; it has been a joy for me to work with him again." Public Speaking: A Cultural Perspective, by Clella Jaffe, Wadsworth Publishing Child Development: Risk and Opportunity, by Murray Krantz, Wadsworth Publishing (cover photo at right) Introduction to Psychology, Third Ed., by James Kalat, Brooks/Cole Publishing. Approx. 800 items. The Musical Experience, by Leonard Ratner, The Portable Stanford   Top of page | Wayfinding | Courtroom Graphics | Interaction Design | Words | Home My photo concept for the cover of "Child Development: Risk and Opportunity" won the Bookbuilders West Judges' Choice award for cover design. The judges' comment: "Sensitive selection of photo to emphasize title."   Stanford Magazine As an editor of Stanford Magazine for ten years, I routinely obtained photos to accompany articles, made the preliminary selections, then worked with the art director in making the final selections. Often, I initiated and managed articles that consisted primarily of photos or art, such as: "A Show of Hands"--Art photographs and sculptures of hands collected by a Stanford hand surgeon (winner of a Maggie Award for design) "Of Mice and Men"--Single article and joint photo of two inventors of mice: Doug Engelbart, with his original 1965 wooden computer mouse, and Mike McCune, with his bioengineered rodent for studying AIDS. View photo. "Quilts: A Gallery of Stanford Images"--The art of a quilting bee of Stanford faculty wives "What's in a Flame?"--Images made with novel laser and video techniques enable scientists to study the nature of flame "Farm Birds"--Photo essay of birds seen on Stanford lands "Where Words Leave Off"--Rodin's outdoor sculpture "From the Hand of the Artist"--Juxtapositions of handwriting samples and drawings by various artists "The Cards of Christmas Past"--Hundred-year-old Christmas cards from the collection of Jane Stanford "Shots Made 'Round the World"--Two-part portfolio of the photos of Joel Simon Top of Visuals page | Wayfinding | Courtroom Graphics | Interaction Design | Words | Home   Web Sites and Publications as Photographer Valley View B&B Inn (all photos) Tricia's Place B&B Inn (nearly all photos) Diagnostic Strategies for Chiropractors, by Thomas Souza, Aspen Publishers: all photos Introduction to Psychology, Fourth Ed., by James Kalat, Brooks/Cole Publishing: about a dozen of my photos Introduction to Psychology, Third Ed., by James Kalat, Brooks/Cole Publishing: about a dozen of my photos Chicago Tribune: principals of ProNet Stanford Folio Calendar: three of my photos Folio Magazine: nearly all photos in my three-part series "The Editor as Photographer," on photo equipment, film and light, and taking the picture. Read text of third article. Stanford Magazine: most issues for ten years had at least one of my photos, from news events to opening shots for feature articles Women's Sports: fighter in the Society for Creative Anachronism Dramatics Magazine: cover photo of Marcel Marceau Theater: Preparation and Performance, by Charolotte Lee & David Grote; Scott, Forsman: man who signs theater- for the deaf The Stanford Daily: second-place winner in photo contest Dramatics Magazine: man who signs theater- for the deaf Top of Visuals page | Wayfinding | Courtroom Graphics | Interaction Design | Words | Home   Teaching Photography "The Editor as Photographer"; "Getting a Photo into Print": Folio West Publishing Conference, Los Angeles, Feb. 1987 "How Editors Can Successfully Take Their Own Photos": Folio Publishing Conference, New York, Oct. 1986 "Photography: What an Editor Must Know": Folio Publishing Conference, New York, Nov. 1985 "Magazine Photography: What an Editor Must Know": Folio Publishing Conference, New York, June 1985 Teaching about editing/writing | Teaching about interactive media Top of Visuals page | Wayfinding | Courtroom Graphics | Interaction Design | Words | Home Applegate Communications, 650-802-9998, info@wayfind.com