The Verge’s art team produced a vibrant array of visual content in 2024, encompassing illustrations, photography, and interactive designs. Their work spanned diverse topics, from the depths of underwater internet cables to the competitive world of Excel spreadsheets, parental anxieties in the digital age, and the evolving role of AI companions. This retrospective highlights 20 exemplary projects, each accompanied by insights from the creative minds behind them.
A standout project revisited the year 2004, exploring its significance as a pivotal moment in internet history. The design captured the spirit of the early aughts, blending nostalgia with an optimistic vision of the internet’s potential for play, creativity, and connection. Another project delved into the hidden world of undersea internet cables, combining data visualizations and maps with intimate portraits of the individuals maintaining this crucial infrastructure. The imagery evoked a sense of wonder and appreciation for the intricate network connecting our online world.
The team’s artistic prowess extended to exploring the surprising world of competitive Excel, capturing the intensity and dedication of spreadsheet enthusiasts through innovative design. They also embraced the quirky side of digital culture with a special-edition print project, “Content Goblins,” featuring colleagues in 1980s office attire, cleverly satirizing the “enshitification” of the internet. Vibrant illustrations depicted the complex relationship between humans and smart home technology, highlighting both the convenience and the potential for detachment from the natural world.
The team’s commitment to innovative storytelling manifested in a variety of formats. A seamless integration of comics and animation effectively conveyed a narrative while prioritizing user experience. A retro-themed graphic series demystified the application of AI in sports, making complex concepts accessible even to those unfamiliar with the subject matter. The annual gift guides featured playful scenes and vibrant wrapping paper, adding a touch of joy to the holiday season. A photo essay captured the essence of a Pantone Color of the Year party, utilizing double exposures to convey the branded extravaganza of the event.
Visuals played a crucial role in bringing to life a special issue on physical media, with a standout image showcasing a floppy disk ingeniously repurposed as a turntable. The team creatively conveyed the decline of a renowned music publication by visually “turning down the volume” on its iconic rating scale. The challenge of showcasing small wearables like smart rings was met with inventive use of props and styling, ensuring the gadgets stood out on the page. Collages captured the chaotic and unsettling nature of a particularly divisive election cycle. An imaginative drawing poignantly illustrated the story of an elderly woman finding solace and joy through music via a smart speaker.
The often-hidden and insidious aspects of the digital world were also brought to the forefront through striking imagery. An image depicting SEO practices as corrosive and invasive captured the essence of the challenges faced by both users and website operators. A meme-inspired illustration cleverly visualized the complexities of copyright law in the age of AI. Playful 3D animations celebrated the cult status of a legendary keyboard, while evocative illustrations captured the surreal and often cartoonish nature of a media empire’s rise and fall. Finally, poignant portraits of two Amazon influencers involved in a lawsuit added depth and complexity to their story, capturing their individual personalities and the contrasting environments they inhabited.
Throughout the year, The Verge’s art team demonstrated a remarkable ability to translate complex ideas and narratives into compelling visuals. Their work enriched the storytelling process, making information more engaging, thought-provoking, and accessible to a wide audience. From the whimsical to the deeply unsettling, their creations served as a powerful complement to the written word, inviting readers to explore the multifaceted landscape of technology and culture.
