Staat van Schiphol: A New Visual Language for Digital Magazines

Transforming Complex Topics into Simple Line Drawings

The Staat van Schiphol project, designed by Elise Eekhout, brings a fresh perspective to the world of digital magazines. Inspired by the simple elegance of the Dutch government's corporate identity, Eekhout sought to visualize complex topics using a single continuous line. The result is a series of illustrations that capture the essence of safety, work environment, and building houses on and around Schiphol Airport.

What sets the Staat van Schiphol project apart is its departure from traditional governmental digital magazines, which often rely on photographs. Eekhout's illustrations, created using Adobe Illustrator software, offer a new visual language that combines simplicity and clarity. The vector-based illustrations can be used in print at various sizes, but their main purpose is online publication. To ensure optimal loading speed, the images are converted to jpg format with a maximum dpi of 1980 x 1980, allowing the content management system to scale them appropriately.

The Staat van Schiphol project was a collaborative effort, with Elise Eekhout serving as the designer and artist, Dorien Bennink as the editor, and Sanne Liefrink as the communication advisor. The project commenced in November 2021 in The Hague and concluded in March 2022, with the online magazine being published on the standard platform of the Dutch government on March 21st, 2022.

Eekhout's design process involved extensive research into the history of art and contemporary visual language trends. The simplicity of line drawings, as used by renowned artists like Picasso, served as a key inspiration. Even prehistoric cave drawings, with their minimalistic lines, were a testament to the power of visualizing the essence of things. The challenge for Eekhout was to distill complex topics related to safety, working, and living on and around the airport into simple line drawings without sacrificing recognizability.

The Staat van Schiphol project, with its Picasso-like style and vibrant colors, offers a unique perspective on the safety and environment of Schiphol Airport. By visually reducing complex subjects such as construction restrictions and noise pollution to their core elements, the illustrations provide readers with essential information in an engaging and accessible way.

The copyright for the illustrations belongs to Elise Eekhout and 2 MAAL EE, ensuring the protection of the intellectual property. The Staat van Schiphol project has already gained recognition, receiving the Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category in 2022. This prestigious award recognizes the project's well-designed, practical, and innovative approach, meeting professional and industrial requirements while contributing to a better world.