Craig Frazier has been in the profession for almost 30 years working as both designer and illustrator; slowly making a transition that has allowed him to overlap two areas in a manner that only a handful of individuals can. His strong, bold, flat forms contain unique style and meaning in every detail.

The Illustrated Voice, leads us through a series of chapters full of examples and explanations regarding the way in which he will first review and assignment, and the process that he readily navigates with his sketchbook and pads of tracing paper at hand. He delves in the relationship and harmony that should co-exist between an illustration and the design and media in which it shall reside —editorial assignments done in a period of 24 hours, annual reports over several months or book covers in a few weeks.

We also get a clear idea of his thought process, the way in which the assignment is placed in front of him and finds the key message(s) that need to be communicated. This is followed by a series of thoughts in which he starts to doodle metaphors, images within images, overlaying objects, practicing his wit, at all times searching for the unexpected— the one thing that will really catch the viewers attention. Judging from the handful of sketches that accompany each example it is clear that his is a rare vision. Not only do we find unheard of associations, distorted proportions and astute metaphors, we find in each process/execution a simplicity of thought and a bareness of message that can and will take your breath away.

There is no lack of examples, from posters, to logos, to covers and spreads in the book, which were carefully selected for their quality and timeless characteristics. It is hard to define when each piece was created (without reading the details), something that leaves me with a small void, for I am not able to clearly see Craig’s growth as an illustrator throughout the years (maybe he does, since he is so close to each idea).

Craig has had his share of experiences of all kinds, which are addressed in the text, and have made his work stronger and more defined, giving him the confidence to believe in his work. Always striving for a concept-driven illustration, on occasion disappointed by what the client has selected, he’s kept his ideas and has been able to repurpose some of them with a new outcome. On other occasions he has used misfortune as a chance to be creative on his own time, which is how Critter and squarepig.tv came into existence.

In essence The Illustrated Voice, shows us the creative process of one imaginative mind, that gathers information from experience, research, conversations and many other sources and is able to transform thousands of images into simple, bold and beautifully executed visuals.

This book contains a bounty of ideas, it is a source of inspiration, and a good example that can help others learn to read between the lines and find a new way of exploring a message, and a window into an edgier way of expressing it. It will taunt you and question you, and it just might give you a little push towards the unknown.