Sarah Edmands Martin

DESIGNER

Associate Professor
University of Notre Dame

Designer, artist, and scholar working at the intersection of visual communication design, critical fabulation, and media aesthetics. 


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Recent News

UIC School of Design guest juror
m(other)ing exhibition open
forthcoming talk at Cornell





SARAHEDMANDS
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SARAHEDMANDS


Technical Illustrations

Infographic, illustration, layout design, digital storytelling 2018–present
Infographic design and technical illustration clarifying new technology from sectors such as aerospace engineering, materials chemistry, biochemistry, and ethics of new technologies categories.
    










Concept

Created in collaboration with principal investigators at Missouri University of Science & Technology for multi-million dollar grant proposals, these illustrations blend technical precision and visual clarity through design. The design translates groundbreaking research on optical-fiber-based sensors for lunar missions into an elegant and structured composition, bridging the gap between aerospace engineering and public understanding.

Visual storytelling can distill complex scientific research into an accessible and engaging format. Halftone aesthetics and a futuristic color palette evoke a sense of exploration and scientific progress. The central figure of an astronaut, interconnected with sensor technology is surrounded by sensor deployment, functionality, and integration into the lunar environment. Layered data visualizations and isometric structures emphasize the real-time monitoring capabilities and in-situ characterization potential of these advanced sensing systems. Through a meticulous balance of typographic hierarchy and iconography, the infographic ensures that viewers, from policymakers to fellow researchers, can quickly grasp the significance of the work.

These illustrations were created for NASA instrumentation proposals: enhancing lunar mission sensors for both astronaut suits and lunar colonies.











This work spans disciplines such as aerospace engineering, materials chemistry, math matrices, and ethics of emerging technology. This work stands as a testament to the power of design in advancing scientific communication, transforming raw data and abstract concepts into an engaging, persuasive, and visually compelling narrative. Not only an effective research tool, this design work also serves as an artifact of speculative design, reinforcing the role of visual media in shaping the future of futures thinking.
  









technical illustration

infographic design

stop motion animation

layout design

diagram design












 Graphis silver award winner


published in  2019 Design Annual 


exhibited in multiple group shows












































Microscopic Details


Illustrations for a biomedical and chemical process of magnetic yeast separation. Presenting a sophisticated visualization of a microscale magnetic separation system, the piece is designed for sorting microparticles based on shape—an innovation with profound implications for biotechnology, microfluidics, and biomedical engineering. By leveraging diagrammatic clarity and a strategic use of color, the illustration highlights the intricate interplay between ferrofluids, budding yeast, and microscale permanent magnets.


















































































“Information graphics should be aesthetically pleasing, but the beauty should emerge from the purity of the information.”



 Edward TufteThe Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 1983.

 Read more from Edward Tufte here.











































These scientific illustrations employ a schematic style.  Clean, precise line work and a restrained color palette enhance clarity and visual hierarchy within an isometric diagram design. Numbered nodes and selective color highlights also emphasize key elements, even within a complex technical structure. 






































“Design is the intermediary between information and understanding.”



 Richard Greféformer executive director of AIGA 

(American Institute of Graphic Arts)



































































































































































Royal Society of Chemistry

These illustrations were created for the cover of the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal. Working closely with research faculty at Missouri Science & Technology, I created this digital illustration from scratch, abstracting complex research on cancer-destroying origami DNA structures.





















Research & Development Annual Report 


Layout, infographic design, and illustration for Missouri University of Science & Technology's annual report.