Behind the Art: Meet Graphics Editor Jen Christiansen

Discover the creative process and insights of Graphics Editor Jen Christiansen [SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN]( Browse any issue of Scientific American, and you’ll find captivating infographics, detailed [diagrams]( and [colorful charts](. These visualizations, crafted from complex datasets, are designed to enhance our feature stories by presenting technical information quickly and clearly. Senior graphics editor Jen Christiansen is the creative force behind these illustrated explainers, but she emphasizes that teamwork is essential to the process. She often works alongside freelance designers and illustrators. And even when she illustrates a concept herself, it’s not a solo project. "I collaborate closely with my colleagues in editorial and the art department to strategize for each article,” Jen says. “The graphics themselves are refined through input from the article’s author, as well as internal and external reviewers, including fact-checkers and copy editors. Production editors and quality managers also play crucial roles behind the scenes in the newsroom. They ensure that the images print on paper or appear on screen as intended.” Jen has been at Scientific American since 2007—though her history with the magazine dates back to 1996, when she started as an intern. Initially she anticipated a career as an academic research scientist, but she also loved the arts. To stay true to both interests, Jen opted for science communication, specializing in natural science illustration. For each project, Jen considers what questions the readers might have and how a graphic could help [answer those questions](. This process involves consulting scientists and other subject matter experts to ensure the accuracy of the information being presented. “I hope readers gain a deeper understanding of a topic that piques their curiosity or discover excitement for a new subject,” she says. [Subscribing]( to Scientific American helps make Jen's work possible. Right now you can get 60 days of Digital Access for $1. And to learn more about how Jen creates stunning scientific visualizations, read her book [Building Science Graphic](. [Subscribe]( Explore some of her most popular graphics: [Pop Culture Pulsar: The Science Behind Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures Album Cover]( [Pop Culture Pulsar: The Science Behind Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures Album Cover]( The stacked plot featured on the record was originally created by radio astronomer Harold D. Craft, Jr. in the course working on his PhD dissertation, “Radio Observations of the Pulse Profiles and Dispersion Measures of Twelve Pulsars” (September, 1970). [Read Now]( [Are the James Webb Space Telescope’s Pictures ‘Real’?]( [Are the James Webb Space Telescope’s Pictures ‘Real’?]( How the JWST’s cosmic images are made. [Read Now]( [See Your Body’s Cells in Size and Number]( [See Your Body’s Cells in Size and Number]( The larger a cell type is, the rarer it is in the body—and vice versa—a new study shows. [Read More]( [Inside Mathematicians’ Search for the Mysterious ‘Einstein Tile’]( [Inside Mathematicians’ Search for the Mysterious ‘Einstein Tile’]( The quest for the einstein tile—a shape never seen before in mathematics—turned up even more discoveries than mathematicians counted on. [Read More]( [Pebbles from an Asteroid Are about to Be Delivered to Earth, and It’s Totally Awesome]( [Pebbles from an Asteroid Are about to Be Delivered to Earth, and It’s Totally Awesome]( The OSIRIS-REx mission will return samples from the asteroid Bennu that could rewrite our solar system’s history. [Read More]( [Scientific American July/August 2024 Issue Cover]( Exclusive Deal! 60 Days of Digital Access for $1 [Subscribe]( To view this email as a web page, [go here](. You received this email because you opted-in to receive email from Scientific American. To ensure delivery please add graphicseditor@scientificamerican.com to your address book. [Unsubscribe]( [Email Preferences]( [Privacy Policy]( [Contact Us](