Timo Meyer
Timo Meyer lives and works as a freelance illustrator for editorial, advertising and branding in Bonn. After completing his studies in astrophysics, Timo initially worked as a consultant in the communications industry before becoming a freelance illustrator. Here, he benefits from the strengths he has gained from his various previous careers – problem solving, concept development and communication.
Timo's illustration style is characterised by strong colours and geometric shapes that interact playfully with each other – sometimes as large image worlds, as for Die ZEIT, sometimes as minimalist spot illustrations and icons, as here for NFON. Depending on the context, motifs with double meanings and strong symbolism alternate with infographics and explanatory pictograms. The thematic range extends from high-tech and architecture to sports, nature and medicine. This sometimes makes it necessary to expand one's own palette. One example here is the line style used for Opel's electric mobility division.
Timo finds inspiration in a small library of art and architecture books, as well as exciting everyday forms captured in a multitude of sketchbooks. These form a constantly growing compendium, in which most client work also begins as rough drafts. For Timo, illustration is more than just illustration. " It can give a theme its own touch, a text a mood, and the viewer an additional perspective."
Among the most exciting and challenging projects Timo has worked on to date are the United Nations Anti-Corruption Handbook, a two-year illustrative accompaniment to SAP's in-house magazine The Inside Track, and visuals for Norwegian energy supplier Hafslund Eco.
And in the future? What are his dream projects and desired media to let his creativity run wild? ‘Murals, a basketball court, ceramics, the exterior of a high-speed train. And of course: a cover for The New Yorker.’
Blog: Teamwork in the design process
Feature: Geometric with depth: Timo Meyer's distinctive imagery
„It turned out really beautiful and you were extremely professional in your communication, processing and design of course!“Maja Metz, DIE ZEIT
„I’m always really impressed by how well you think things through and how smoothly we manage to pull it all off together!“Gabriele Wies, Berliner Sparkasse/S-Communications