Scientific journal cover art. These projects usually allow a lot of artistic freedom, and are always a wonderful adventure for me and for my clients. illustrator graphicdesigner designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Duncan M. MacGruer
- Roswell, United States
- 12 projects
In business as an independent creative resource since 1992, my work is a balance of design, illustration and art direction.
About
In business as an independent creative resource since 1992, my work is a balance of design, illustration and art direction. Working closely with academic, government and corporate clients, I have been involved at every level of the creative process, from concept and visualization through execution and appraisal, giving me a unique appreciation for the relationship between creativity and the fulfillment of business and research objectives.
Specializing in scientific and technical illustration, I pride myself on the ability to achieve a broad array of style. There is no limit to subject matter, expression or technique, whether creating data driven research figures, photorealistic renderings, broadly expressive scientific illustrations or charts, tables and graphs. An educational background and work history in fine arts and industrial design has also enabled me to work in and draw from a wide variety of disciplines.
My work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Nature, Computer Graphics World and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Clients have included educational institutions such as MIT, Princeton University and Stanford University and corporate clients such as IBM, Universal Studios and Dell Technologies.
- Joined September 2025
Skills· 10
Languages
- EnglishFluent
Industry experience
- Media & Entertainment
- Professional Services
- Computers & Electronics
- Education
- Software & Internet
Projects · 12
3D Illustration in support of paper titled “Transient anti-interferon autoantibodies in the airways are associated with recovery from COVID-19”. To be used in departmental publications and as a medical journal cover design. For Emory University’s School of Medicine. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
My clients at Georgia Tech have created a transformative process that can reversibly and rapidly change the shape and topological class of sub-milimeter bubbles (0.05mm) from spheres to tori and back again, hence the infinite loop arrangement. This isn’t supposed to be possible, but.. there you go. The wrinkling and buckling of the shapes is true to the actual geometry's response to the process. Fascinating investigations of surface mechanics will follow. Shape shifters! Accepted as cover art for a Royal Society of Chemistry publication. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Windstar Cruise Lines 3D Illustration for print marketing, in coordination with Zest Creative, Lancashire, UK. Realism in simple compositions can be unforgiving, and requires restraint. The subtleties carry the day, and it can be a bit of a dance deciding what and what not to include. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
3D modeling with post processing in Photoshop. Oxycombustion flame temperature reduction by the injection of liquid water. For MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Scientific illustration of hybrid composites composed of MOFs (Metal Organic Frameworks) impregnated with linear polymer chains. The composites are used in gas sensing applications, hence the little sulfur dioxide molecules flying about. For MIT’s Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Environmental analysis in situ with submersible devices. 3D infographic with graphic table overlays. For the Crespo Research Group at KTH University in Stockholm Sweden, and publication in Current Opinion in Electrochemistry. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Scientific graphic describing surface engineering by predictive laser deposition of multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs, or high entropy alloys). One of several illustrations for a successful grant proposal submitted by Lehigh University's School of Mechanical Engineering. d modeling with post processing in Photoshop. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Biodiversity conservation vector infographic displaying Central and South American distribution of the Jaguar and threats from increasing human land use and urbanization. For the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society at the University of Southern California. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Vector infographic for a multi institutional proposal led by Lehigh University for investigations into high entropy / multi principle element alloys (MPEAs). graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
5' x 10' vector illustration of an SaaS Journey Map designed for Border States, illustrating the complex path from lead generation and qualification through pitching and closing the deal to activation, implementation and renewal. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Selections from a series of twelve 3D modeled industrial product application illustrations for the Des-Case Corporation. graphicdesigner illustrator designer
- Freelance Digital Illustrator
Work experience
Instructor · WestRim Digital ArtsDec 2000 – Sep 2009 · 8 yrs 10 mos
Developed curriculum and instructed 3D software applications to corporate design departments.
Featured Speaker and Instructor · Red Rock Revival – S3D Users ConferenceDec 2000 – Sep 2006 · 5 yrs 10 mos
Developed and presented instructional and educational seminars on creativity and digital production.
Principal and Owner · MacGruer DesignJan 1992 – Present · 34 yrs 11 mos
Providing design, illustration and other creative services to science and technology clients, and to the creative industry at large.
Certifications and awards
Independent contractor with 32 years experience in science, technology and design2030 – 2025
Presenter and speaker; developed and directed seminars to design professionals2000 – 2009
Beta tester for leading 3D software and CAD programs; instructor for digital arts training organization2003 – 2014
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