A hero’s journey
Brain Meets World by Behavioral Scientist
What happens to our ideas and theories when they leave the safety of our minds and collide with the chaos of the real world?
Brain Meets World takes readers on a hero's journey of ideas, told through prose, poetry, historical archives, and art. Across seven chapters, leading behavioral scientists and science writers offer glimpses into the electric, surprising, painful, and peculiar paths our ideas travel, and the unexpected places they take us.
Design Direction
The publication is rooted in the world of behavioral science, a uniquely rich stage for exploring the odysseys of the mind. Here, the author, the setting, and the subject collapse into one: ourselves.
Drawing on the hero's journey as a guiding theme, the design takes its cues from old notebooks filled with half-formed dreams and restless ideas. That energy is brought to life through handcrafted collage illustrations and a bold, expanded color palette.
Illustration
As lead illustrator, I sourced base materials from national archives, private collectors, and contributing authors. Below is a selection of isolated assets and visual styles developed for the publication. A cohesive design system held everything together across materials that varied widely in origin, condition, and scale.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Evan Nesterak
Creative Director, Designer, Illustrator
Liam Speranza
Editors
Cameron French, Heather Graci, Elizabeth Weingarten, Mitra Salasel