This project began as a school assignment for Visual Communications, where we learned about the different ways that design and art can be utilized to communicate with a wide variety of viewers. We were asked to find an article and create an illustration that would draw viewers into the story, offering subtle clues about its deeper meaning. I chose the article "Goodbye Mars One, The Fake Mission to Mars That Fooled the World," written by Jonathan O'Callaghan. What started as a classroom exercise evolved into a more personal project, where I brought my unique artistic style to the forefront.
Visual Communications
Article Illustration
Procreate
Article Illustration
Procreate
Mars One was a private spaceflight project that gained widespread attention by promising to establish a permanent human settlement on Mars. Announced in 2012, it claimed it would send the first crew to Mars by 2023. The mission captured the public's imagination and drew numerous applicants eager to be among the first to colonize the Red Planet. However, the project faced significant skepticism from the scientific community. Critics pointed out the immense technical and financial challenges that Mars One seemed ill-equipped to handle. Despite this, Mars One persisted, raising funds through media deals such as a reality TV show that showcased the selection process of candidates and merchandise sales. The project eventually fell apart, plagued by financial issues and a lack of credible progress. Jonathan O'Callaghan's article delves into the rise and fall of Mars One, exploring how the project managed to garner so much attention despite its flaws. It discusses the motivations behind the mission, the hopeful aspirations of the applicants, and the eventual disillusionment as the project was revealed to be unfeasible.
In my illustration for the article "Goodbye Mars One, The Fake Mission to Mars That Fooled the World," I incorporated a hypnotized eye controlled by a powerful hand that transforms itself into a rocket. This element symbolizes the manipulation and allure of the Mars One project. The hypnotized eye represents the captivated public and hopeful applicants who were drawn into the grandiose promises of a Mars settlement. The hand signifies the driving force behind the deception, guiding and controlling the narrative. As the hand transforms into a rocket, it illustrates how greed and ambition can propel individuals and organizations to bypass coherent and reasonable thought, leading them to chase after impractical and fantastical dreams without fully grasping the reality of their actions. This visual metaphor underscores the themes of manipulation and disillusionment central to the Mars One story.