CSZHU Illustration

I designed the book cover for the German edition of Milton S. Mayer’s “They Thought They Were Free” published by Büchner Verlag. The author studied the lives of ordinary German citizens in the Third Reich and their mentalities towards the tyranny after its collapse.

My cover design shows a swastika being painted over. I wanted the cover to allude to the self-perception of the men who were interviewed in the book: looking back, they didn‘t see themselves as perpetrators of National Socialism.

The paint is applied thinly. Behind a superficial layer of white paint, a foundation of right-wing ideology remains.

Cover illustration for the fantasy anthology “Am Saum der Welten.” In a genre often dominated by a white heteronormative male perspective, this anthology features 15 incredible authors breaking barriers and challenging the status quo in fantasy literature.

My contribution dives into the heart of mystery with a dark forest, cloaked in mystery. My goal was to create an atmosphere full of suspense and to invite readers into the unknown.

Cover illustration for Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: On emigration and return migration processes of immigrants from/to Germany

How do we depict migration visually? I was commissioned to illustrate this new study by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. The study dives deep into the complex dynamics of immigration in Germany amidst demographic shifts and a growing demand for labor. Interestingly, many immigrants don’t stay long and choose to emigrate again. Understanding these migration patterns is crucial, and this study aims to do just that. It’s a comprehensive look at the push and pull factors shaping these movements.

To show these dynamics visually, I chose a landscape of arrows as a motif. The represent different migration patterns and form an architectural space: There are different directions and ways for the figures to move, and everyone is heading somewhere else.

I was commissioned by Noema Magazine to illustrate the article “The Bumpy Road Towards Global AI Governance”. The text by Miranda Gabbott analyses the common ground on how AI can be regulated across cultural and national boundaries between the US & China.

I wanted to highlight the careful observation, the distance, and a push-and-pull dynamic between the two countries over technology. Therefore, this illustration portrays two people facing each other at an off angle through a wall of seethrough circuit lines. They are separated by the technological sphere as well as they are brought together by its openness and need for transparency.

The Berliner Zeitung commissioned me for two illustrations on mental health in the fashion industry. The author examines a work culture that can foster mental illness, and what alternative paths might look like.

It was important for me in the illustration to convey a seriousness without too much darkness or gloom. I solved this with the choice of motif: One of the illustrations opens up a space of association, while the other draws on conceptual editorial imagery.

Illustration for The New York Times: „Looking for the Cheapest Room Rate? HotelSlash Wants to Help.“

I was commissioned by NYT to illustrate their latest Frugal Traveler column, which reviews the services of a new hotel booking app.

I wanted to emphasize the aspect of planning and the goal of saving money when booking. Various hotel options are laid out on a Monopoly board. Elements such as credit cards, dice and banknotes lie around it. It‘s all about clever strategy, but also a pinch of luck.

I was commissioned by Futurium Berlin for the exhibition „Zukünfte der Demokratie“: In this new exhibiton area, democracy is analysed through different angles and media.

I had the wonderful opportunity to create four short comics and murals: They present three different democracies and one autocracy of the future. Which (dis-)advantages does each one bring in order to fulfill political goals? How do social justice and climate justice play together? How do we want to live together? The worlds are

Westzentrien: A political system based on Western democracies, where marginalised groups of society feel out of touch with the politicians who represent them.

All-Inea: A political system based on everybody’s participation, in which a local community votes on solutions on how to handle threats to food security.

Planetaria: A decentralised, post-national world without borders, in which a natural disaster is maneuvered with the help of AI and experts around the globe.

Dictopia: An autocratic system, in which everything depends on the arbitrariness of an autocrat and in which critical voices and freedom of the press are eliminated.

Each comic has its own style, according to the characteristics of the particular society: this can be seen in the color palette, the typography, the stylization of the characters, storylines, and environmental backgrounds. For example, I chose a very loose panel arrangement, images blending into each other, natural color tones for Planetaria, whereas the Dictopia comic is completely black and white, with a very rigid panel grid and sharp edges.

Cover illustration for POLITICO Europe: „Can TikTok’s cash shield it from the endgame?“

In March, a ban of tech giant TikTok was discussed in the US government. For the cover of this issue, I wanted to highlight the limits of lobbying: three layers of money protect the smartphone/TikTok at the base. All of the bank notes have started to burn. While the dollars on top are highly affected, the Euro bill has not caught as much fire yet.

Everything Everywhere All At Once portraits! It’s my favorite movie and I wanted to pay a little tribute to its stellar cast.

Illustration about long-distance friendships for Krautreporter: „How to stay friends when one moves away“

In relationships with romantic partners, there are ideas about normality; what a romantic relationship „should look like“. In contrast, long-distance friendships do not come with such expectations, which offers diversity, but is also challenging due to lack of routines and knowledge.

To communicate this lack of rules, I chose a very loose, collage-like composition. Different ways of staying in contact are scattered throughout the image.

Illustration for The Philosopher’s Magazine issue 98: „Facial Recognition As Oppressive Technology“

In their article, philosophers W. Hartzog and E. Selinger argue that facial recognition technology is a menace disguised as a gift, since it cannot be procedurally regulated and can easily be exploited.

In order to convey the authors‘ message, I used sharp contrasts: clear-cut shapes, opposing colours.

Locked Up: Stories from immigration detention in Europe.

A few months ago, I was approached by PICUM to work on illustrations for a booklet about immigration detention centers. The images visualise stories of people who have experienced the practices in these facilities across Europe.

I focused on the description of the psychological effect the experience had on the detainees. It was of utmost importance to me to treat the stories with sensibility and respect.