M. Genevieve Hitchings
+ 1. 917. 375. 3800
info@artorium.com
Menu
Overview

Welcome to Artorium

A design practice committed to work that informs, educates and inspires.

Profile

ARTORIUM, a studio I established in 2006, provides information design and illustration for both print and interactive media. As its principal designer, I attempt in all my client work to enlighten viewers by communicating the essentials of complex information quickly, clearly, and appealingly. I frequently work as a contract artist for scientists at research organizations. In my experience drawing combined with digital knowledge provides a unique forum for articulating and transferring ideas.

In addition, I serve as Associate Professor, in the department of Communication Design at New York City College of Technology, a division of the City University of New York (CUNY). I teach graphic design not merely as a theoretical process, but as an active collaboration between designers and clients. Artorium also reflects this approach, with emphasis on building relationships with clients that include initial planning, evaluation of preliminary proposals and sketches, and feedback throughout the creative process. – M. Genevieve Hitchings

Activities

PUBLICATIONS & EXHIBITIONS

Coleoptera. Focus on Nature XV, Roberson Museum and Science Center, New York State Museum, Albany, NY, 06/20—1/20 2020

Bioluminescent Beetles. Art Gallery of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C, 06/16—11/15/2018

Cornelia Hesse-Honegger’s ‘Disturbed’ Insects. Published article for Journal of Natural Science Illustration, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI), 03/2018

Introduction to Graphic Design: A Guide to Thinking, Process & Style The Great Pollinator Project identity that I designed for the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) is featured as a case study in this book about Graphic Design, 2018

Designer Magazine Interview about my work as a science illustrator: The Accidental Natural Historian, 01/2017

Quilts And Human Rights An illustration of mine Scabby the Rat included in Robin Berson’s Triangle Factory Fire Quilt, is among the 100 quilts world wide featured in this book by Marsha MacDowell, Mary Worrall, Lynne Swanson, and Beth Donaldson and Foreword by Desmond Tutu, 2016

Career Opportunities: Connecting Design Students With Industry. Published article for Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 07/2016

Science Illustration as Digital Storytelling: Explaining Complex Problems Through Interactive Science Illustration. Published article for Journal of Natural Science Illustration, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI), 05/2016

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Rethinking Turf: Seeing the Invisible through Illustration Serious Play: Beyond Earth, FATE Conference. Denver, CO. Presenter, 04/14/23

Exploring the Role of Information Design in Visualizing Science Visual SciComm Conference: Visualizing Science for All, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI). Online. Presenter, 08/13/22


Career Opportunities: Connecting Design Students With Industry 2nd International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’16), the Faculty of Business Administration and Management of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). Valencia, Spain. Presenter, 06/22/16

Designing Compelling Stories Online: Alternative Paths to Traditional Storytelling 11th Annual University & College Designers Association (UCDA) National Design Education Summit, Robert Busch School of Design at Kean University. Union, NJ. Presenter, 05/23/16

Seeing The Invisible World Through Illustration Scholars Exchange, NYC College of Technology, CUNY. Brooklyn, NY. Presenter, 10/13/15

Science Illustration & Digital Storytelling The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Arcadia University. Glenside, PA. Presenter, 07/06/15

Spaces of Learning AIGA Design Educators Conference Panel. Portland, OR. Co-Moderator & Presenter, 04/16/15

13th Annual CUNY IT Conference John Jay College, CUNY Panel. New York, NY. Presenter, 12/05/14

New Ventures: Intersections in Design Education AIGA Design Educators Conference Panel. Toronto, Canada. Co-Moderator & Presenter, 09/12/14

10th Annual CUE Conference LaGuardia College, CUNY. New York, NY. Presenter, 2014

Inaugural Colloquium 1.0 Design Incubation, AIGA. New York, NY. Presenter, 06/05/14

CAA’s 102nd Annual Conference College Art Association. Chicago, Il. Poster Presentation, 2014

Head, Heart, Hand AIGA Design Conference. Minneapolis, MN. Poster Presentation, 2013

12th Annual CUNY IT Conference John Jay College, CUNY. New York, NY. Panel Presenter, 2013

Fifth Annual EduTech Day Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY. New York, NY. Panel Presenter, 2013

Featured Events

• Published article coming out September 2023: Dissecting Typographic Components in Effective Science Visualization for Journal of Natural Science Illustration Volume 55, No. 2, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI).

• Tomorrowland, CAA Annual Conference, Chicago, Il. Presenter, 02/14/24

Awards & Recognition

• GNSI Exhibition, 2022
• GNSI Exhibition, 2021
• GNSI Exhibition, 2020
• GNSI Exhibition, 2018
• AMNH featured case study, 2018
• Groundswell’s Annual Art Auction, 2014
• One Page Mania Site of the Day, 2014
• AI-AP 33 Chosen Winner, 2014

Disciplines

• Art Direction
• Illustration
• Graphic Design
• Information Design
• User Interface Design
• Animation

Select Clients

• American Museum of Natural History
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARS-B)
• NYC Department of Parks and Recreation
• Riverside Park Fund

Connect

Creative Process

1. Getting Started

An initial kick-off meeting is usually scheduled to establish project goals, deadlines, delivery expectations, production schedules, roles and responsibilities.

2. Research

Learning as much as possible about the task at hand is important. Knowledge of different perspectives and contexts, including historical, can be very helpful in creating relevant and appropriate solutions. Research includes understanding the client’s goals and objectives, as well as target audiences, competitors and specific objectives.

3. Concept Development

After defining the goals for a particular project, a good deal of time will be spent developing the scope and depth of the content as well as the overall information flow. Content generally entails all text and visual based information. To establish a clear direction it is also necessary to resolve all functionality for interactive projects.

4. Design

The visual aspect of design is the most persuasive, and one might argue the most compelling. Once objectives, content, technology structure, and timelines have been finalized and approved, the visual designs begin. A variety of documentation: sketches, mock-ups, prototypes, possibly more meetings, result from this stage in the process.

5. Implementation

Taking pride in clean, compelling graphics that synchronize visuals with content, my goal is to create a seamless experience while communicating a clear, beautiful and provocative message. Once the prototype has been approved, the project is moved through development, quality assurance testing, and deployment.

©2003-2023 M. Genevieve Hitchings. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED