Dom McKenzie’s Journey Through Editorial Illustration
Dom McKenzie studied Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art and has developed a distinctive editorial style since graduating. His clients include major publications and organisations such as The Guardian, The New York Times, WIRED, The Big Issue, and Cancer Research UK. His work has been widely recognised, including being named YCN Student of the Year and receiving a Highly Commended award in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Book Illustration, as well as being exhibited internationally.
Why did you decide to take up your creative trade?
Drawing was always the natural starting point for all projects on my foundation course. Whether that was designing a sculpture, creating textile work or planning a photo shoot. When it was pointed out to me that my design work was essentially ‘illustrating’ the process of my other projects, I went all in and haven’t looked back. Illustration allows you to have a window into so many different worlds, as a fundamentally nosy person, which also appealed to me!
How do you get past creative blocks?
The pressure of a deadline helps! Getting out for a walk, playing with my son or just stroking my cat. Anything gets you away from your desk and into a different headspace. A few years ago, I had a few problems with my back and shoulders and forcing myself to move a little bit every hour does wonders for my thinking too.
What is your creative process?
All my work is hand-drawn and finished on Photoshop. I like keeping a hand-drawn element to my work. It gives the line work a bit of life, and it stands out against the hard edges of much of the digital world.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I’ve always loved those illustrators who act more as visual communicators, bringing design elements into their work, such as Paul Rand, Milton Glaser, Saul Bass, Bob Gill and more recently Christoph Niemann. I also love classic British illustration, such as the energetic work of Gerald Scarfe and Ronald Searle. Outside of illustration, the restless creativity of Radiohead, Picasso and Stanley Kubrick really inspires. Closer to home, my son, seeing the world through the eyes of a growing child, is a wonder.
What are you reading or listening to right now?
Reading: Siege of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell, a darkly comic look at the British Empire and the perils of only seeing what you want to see.
Listening: Dry Cleaning’s new record, Secret Love. I also love to listen to cricket on the radio during the season!
What does your typical day involve?
Nursery drop off with my son provides me with a little walk in the morning light to energise me and gives me time to digest what I have to do that day. I used to work in a studio separate from my home, and I missed the morning commute; this is a nice replacement.
Make a pot of coffee.
Answer emails and get the admin out of the way.
Coffee.
Start working on any briefs I have. If I’m not working, I’ll start on some personal projects.
Break for Yoga before lunch. I started this as a way to alleviate back pain, but it’s become a great way to reset and deal with mental stress when the deadlines and work pile up.
Lunch. Nothing too fancy, probably a coffee (I’m a caffeine fiend.)
Work on briefs/personal work until I go and get my son from nursery at 4.
I will sometimes work on things after my son has gone to bed, depending on what I have on, how tired I’m feeling or if there’s something good on TV!
What has been your favourite project to date and why?
That changes regularly, but recently I was really pleased with my cover for Ferment Magazine. I was given the theme of the Home Counties Brewing Scene and ran with the idea of beer glasses as the rolling fields, beer bottles as the spires of medieval churches and beer tap tree trunks. Lots of fun that turned out really well.
How do you switch off?
I play tennis, spend time with my family and head to the beach, which I’m lucky to have a short drive from my house.
Who inspires you?
Paul Rand, Bob Gill, Milton Glaser, Picasso, Gerald Scarfe, Ronald Searle, Radiohead, Stanley Kubrick… to name just a few!
A big thank you to Dom Mckenzie for contributing to our series of creative conversations with industry experts.