This series of posts will feature a collection of my published cartoons of which there are around 30 in number, beginning with some of those I contributed to U: magazine whilst working at the University of Technology, Sydney. Subsequent cartoon posts will help me to grow an online gallery of my single panel satirical work.

Satirical illustration to accompany article on changes to Sedition Law published in U: magazine-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill.

The cartoon as it appeared within the article.

Cover illustration for Form/Work journal-©2003 Dr. Michael Hill.

The “theorists” one was put together hurriedly in an afternoon whilst an academic journal on design theory (a special issue on architectural design) was being held up at the printers awaiting a cover illustration. I just grabbed some images from old comics I had in my office, invented some names for theories and collaged the various elements together.

How the cartoon looked on the cover of the journal.

The next one was based on what I saw at an end-of-semester design exhibition student party held on the roof of the Design Faculty building which housed a semi-abstract modernist sculpture that resembled a large scale bottle opener. I watched as this girl wandered up to it with a bottle of beer and proceeded, after a struggle of sorts, to open it, as if it was a functional bottle opener despite the marked difference in scale between it and her bottle. It worked as she found a chink on the side that did fit her bottle although it was a bit awkward to execute. Then I heard this comment from one of the two onlooking students: “Form follows function.”  Yes, I really did and designed another cartoon from it!

Form follows function at a Design Faculty Exhibition Opening afterparty-©2003 Dr. Michael Hill.

…and how the cartoon was presented in the magazine…the art director couldn’t resist chopping into segments!

As always, my thanks for the excellent advice, assistance and cartooning expertise from the wonderful Louise Graber.