“A breakthrough featured on the cover of this special edition”
COVER FOR OPTICS AND PHOTONICS 2014
Developed at ICFO
Field: Science
Key Assets:
- Conceptualization
- Scientific Illustration
- Journal Cover
Each year, the December issue of Optics and Photonics News highlights the most exciting optics research from the past 12 months. A panel of editors reviewed a record 200 research summaries submitted by scientists worldwide. From these, they selected 30 reports that most effectively communicated significant breakthroughs to the optics community. Among these is a report by Dr. Osamu Takayama, Dr. David Artigas, and Prof. Lluis Torner of the Nonlinear optical phenomena group at ICFO, titled ‘Nano Guiding of Light Using Dyakonov Waves.’ This study successfully directed light using nanosheet films without any loss, a breakthrough featured on the cover of this special edition.
As graphic designer at ICFO, I was asked to assist with the creation of the cover illustration, in this case engaging in a multidisciplinary collaboration with Scixel, a video game developer known for creating renders for scientific journal covers. The work process began with a series of drawings and sketches that guided the illustration. After the first render, we went through a series of iterations aimed at being faithful to the science while also capturing the aesthetic allure intended for the cover of such publications. This process continued untill we achieved the desired result.
The illustration shows the interface of an anisotropic crystal where the rare Dyakonov surface waves occur. It depicts light being guided along ultra-thin nanosheets, showcasing these waves’ ability to propagate light below the standard waveguide limit. The design demonstrates the non-lossy, highly directional propagation of light, marking a significant step forward for photonic devices. The overall image visualizes this nano-optical phenomenon, making a complex scientific concept accessible and captivating.
COVER FOR OPTICS AND PHOTONICS 2014
Developed at ICFO
Field: Science
Key Assets:
- Conceptualization
- Scientific Illustration
- Journal Cover
Each year, the December issue of Optics and Photonics News highlights the most exciting optics research from the past 12 months. A panel of editors reviewed a record 200 research summaries submitted by scientists worldwide. From these, they selected 30 reports that most effectively communicated significant breakthroughs to the optics community. Among these is a report by Dr. Osamu Takayama, Dr. David Artigas, and Prof. Lluis Torner of the Nonlinear optical phenomena group at ICFO, titled ‘Nano Guiding of Light Using Dyakonov Waves.’ This study successfully directed light using nanosheet films without any loss, a breakthrough featured on the cover of this special edition.
As graphic designer at ICFO, I was asked to assist with the creation of the cover illustration, in this case engaging in a multidisciplinary collaboration with Scixel, a video game developer known for creating renders for scientific journal covers. The work process began with a series of drawings and sketches that guided the illustration. After the first render, we went through a series of iterations aimed at being faithful to the science while also capturing the aesthetic allure intended for the cover of such publications. This process continued untill we achieved the desired result.
The illustration shows the interface of an anisotropic crystal where the rare Dyakonov surface waves occur. It depicts light being guided along ultra-thin nanosheets, showcasing these waves’ ability to propagate light below the standard waveguide limit. The design demonstrates the non-lossy, highly directional propagation of light, marking a significant step forward for photonic devices. The overall image visualizes this nano-optical phenomenon, making a complex scientific concept accessible and captivating.