09/11/2026
While we love digital graphics, sometimes nothing beats traditional pen and paper. After reading “Combatting Kentucky Food Deserts,” a recent article in Kentucky City magazine, Graphic Designer Sommer Torabi’s brain whirled with possibilities. She decided to hand-draw an illustration for the piece. Here are her thoughts:
“I always get a jolt of excitement when I see a story folder in my publication that doesn’t have any art with it. It opens the door to editorial illustration and a fun challenge to create a visual that complements the text.
“For ‘Combatting Kentucky Food Deserts’ the title immediately sparked a direction, as the word ‘desert’ offers strong visual cues. After reading the article, concepts emerged of combining decaying urban and natural desert landscapes to convey desolation and the stark reality of hunger.
“I chose hand illustration to emphasize the human element of the piece. Rough textures and lines visually portray the raw discomfort of hunger. A figure sitting alone at a bus stop with a fast-food cup, waiting for a bus that never arrives, highlights a core issue from the text. The subject’s gaze toward a barren landscape mirrors feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
“To reinforce this uncomfortable, unwelcoming atmosphere, I used a monochromatic orange color palette. Colors on this spectrum evoke a harsh environment where living things struggle to thrive, drawing a parallel between natural deserts and the barren realities of food insecurity. The limited range of colors also reflects the muted vibrancy of such a life.”
Sommer’s decision to hand-draw exemplifies our commitment to treat every publication we design with intention and care. Stay tuned for more design spotlights!
