Berlin Illustrator Stretches the Imagination

Imagine training for one year to run the New York City Marathon. Plus imagine actually running it and getting to the finish line.

Now imagine running the New York City Marathon while drawing and posting the pictures to social media sites.

That’s what Christoph Nieman, a prominent illustrator, did.

Nieman has illustrated for the New York Times, The New Yorker, Google and more. His illustrations are mainly political, but his work can vary from something as serious as radiation in Fukushima to a comedic app called Petting Zoo.

My class was lucky enough to meet Nieman and learn about his job and his philosophy on life, clients, creativity and humor.

Nieman designs for himself and clients. He stressed the importance of always being able to deliver what he promised to clients and always meeting or going beyond expectations.

This a a copy of the New York Times Book Review, where Nieman’s illustration is featured on the front page. Nieman says he likes working on a deadline because it allows for a certain spontaneity – he does not like second guessing his work. Long deadlines can force a person to be overly critical and ruin a good idea.

Nieman recently released his book “Abstract City” and in it he writes and illustrates about his life when he lived in New York. The book is funny and makes light of the life of a New Yorker. Nieman says humor is a result of the unexpected.