DAI Isometric Illustration Series

1. Retro Energy, Global Voice

Project Introduction

• Project Title: Radio DAI

• Timeline: February 2023

• Project Type: Create a logo and visual assets

• Purpose: Build a retro-inspired podcast identity aligned with DAI’s brand.

• Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator

Team & Role

• Designer: Gawon Lee

• Project Lead: Elizabeth Drachman (Principal Specialist, Global Communications)

Project Overview

Radio DAI was a podcast created by DAI’s Global Communications team. Because the name included “Radio,” the concept naturally called for a retro look and feel.

All colors came from DAI’s official brand palette to keep visual consistency. Within this limited range, I used isometric illustrations to add depth and energy. The logo was adapted from DAI’s main logotype using a slightly lighter weight of Proxima Nova. Concentric circles behind the text symbolize broadcast signals connecting DAI’s global offices.

2. Drawing Function, Not Fiction

Project Introduction

• Project Title: Illustration for USAID’s Ukraine HOVERLA Project

• Timeline: February 2023

• Project Type: Isometric Illustration

• Purpose: Slider for article on dai.com

• Format & Size: 1000 × 420 px, designed as a 13-frame slider

• Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator, Visme platform for slider integration

Team & Role

• Designer: Gawon Lee

• Project Lead / Author: Elizabeth Drachman (Principal Specialist, Global Communications)

Project Overview

In early 2023, I was asked by Elizabeth Drachman to create an illustration that could visually capture the scale and variety of emergency goods provided by USAID’s HOVERLA project in Ukraine during wartime. The final piece, a 13-frame isometric slider, was embedded in the “By the Numbers” section of the article “One Year On: How One USAID Governance Project in Ukraine Pivoted in War Time.”

The illustration depicts critical items delivered to municipalities under extreme conditions—such as medical kits, construction equipment, water purification systems, laptops, educational materials, large and small generators, relief shelters, and even a backhoe loader. About 90% of the visual elements were custom-drawn, while ~10% incorporated stock imagery for efficiency. All five icons included were hand-drawn.

My goal was to make the data not only readable but also human and immediate. By using a clean isometric style, the illustrations balanced the seriousness of the subject matter with accessibility for a broad audience—ensuring the focus stayed on the resilience of Ukrainian communities and the tangible impact of aid.

Notes

I began by reviewing dozens of reference photos provided by the author. Using them as underlays, I sketched the key forms and then refined the perspective to build a consistent isometric style.

You can view the original article along with my illustration in the “By the Numbers” section, roughly three-fifths of the way down the page.