PORTRAIT. “Major scientific magazines have trusted me”, Christophe draws in 3D to make science accessible

Christophe Martin revolutionized scientific illustration by making complex concepts accessible to everyone. From his beginnings in operating theaters to 3D animations for laboratories and startups, discover the story of this expert in “simplexity”.

There “simplicity“, this is the term that Christophe Martin uses to explain his profession: “simply say complex things“.

The beginning of the story

“In the 90s, I attended a lot of surgeries in the operating room, because I had to draw everything by hand. We needed specific authorizations because our simple presence in the operating room put the patient’s life in danger. You could carry germs, even if you took all precautions“. Today, except in exceptional cases, no illustrator is found together. Video recordings have taken over and allow illustrators to work on an operation after the fact.

It was when Christophe, then an illustrator lost in the crowd, read an article in a magazine in 2004 that it clicked. “The article was about an American illustrator in the middle of the blues, a bit like me at the time, who said to himself that he had to find an area where other illustrators weren’t going. As he lived in Los Angeles, he chose to specialize in matte painting, which involves designing sets for cinema. There, I told myself that I had to find my own matte painting. As I loved science since I was little, I specialized in scientific illustration. And since that day, I became visible. Major scientific magazines have trusted me. This article changed my lifee”.

My first 3D software, I developed it myself.

Christopher Martin

Scientific illustrator

Scientific animation has taken on an increasingly important place.

The founder of Imascience is today at the head of a small team of illustrators who produce scientific animation. Laboratories and universities call on him for specific needs. “

“It could be for patients who need to be explained what their treatment will consist of, for a scientific magazine which will cover different subjects each month, or for a startup which has just developed a mode of action for a molecule and who is looking for investors” explains Christophe.

A profession that has evolved a lot, particularly with the arrival of 3D.

An article originally published in October 2023.

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