Cole/

It’s Not Hard To Imagine – Editorial Thesis

It’s Not Hard To Imagine is an editorial series that extends the trends of humanity’s modern obstacles into the future, capturing existing societal stresses.

A series grounded in humanity.

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Image 1 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“I Want One” Watercolour, and coloured pencil. Nov. 2025
This illustration critiques the obsession with status symbols. Scientific advancements have reintroduced extinct species like dodo birds, sabertooth tigers, and woolly mammoths. These animals are now sold as commodities to the rich. I depicted a busy street where people flaunt these ‘reconstituted’ animals as the ultimate fashion statements.

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Image 2 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“GMO” Watercolour, coloured pencil, and Ink. Dec. 2025
GMOs have turned food into science experiments. In the foreseeable future, natural growth has become obsolete, and produce is entirely manufactured. My illustration depicts a lab-grown apple, enlarged dramatically to become human-sized. This comedic approach highlights the absurdity of removing nature from an inherently natural process until it becomes unrecognizable.

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Image 3 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“Highly Strung” Watercolour, Gouache, and Ink. Jan. 2026
Modern cities prioritize profit over the resident experience. Urban noise and overpopulation have made it impossible to find peace. This illustration depicts a tenant using a device designed to remedy overstimulation. Instead of fixing the environment, society created another product: cords carry conversations through the chaos, while glasses block out intrusive advertising.

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Image 4 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“Now Arriving” Watercolour. Jan. 2026
Rapid population growth without proper planning has created dense hotspots. Instead of improving infrastructure, cities simply become taller and subways deeper. Inspired by Toronto’s struggling transit system, I illustrated a convoluted subway network with overlapping rails and trains plunging deeper underground. It represents a future where we focus on expansion over efficiency.

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Image 5 Process. Visual and written discovery. Pt. 1

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Image 5 Process. Visual and written discovery. Pt. 2

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“His eyes are elsewhere” Watercolour, Gouache, and Coloured Pencil. Feb. 2026
Imagining the future requires a foundation in the present. Modern dating is shifting from real-life meetings to online convenience, where users curate profiles to attract as many partners as possible. However, the outcome for many is dissatisfaction. I imagined a future where this trend continues dramatically: a man sits across from his partner, yet his eyes peer beyond her, searching for his next match. This makes the future dating landscape feel entirely possible by only slightly exaggerating our current reality.

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Image 6 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“No Signal” Watercolour, Ink, and Gouache. Feb. 2026
While technology promises to simplify life, the opposite often occurs. Updates and advancements have become a constant annoyance, adding stress rather than solutions. I illustrated a room covered in motherboards, cords, and plugs just to set up a TV, with a woman in the foreground daunted by the unnecessary complexity of the task.

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Image 7 Process. Visual and written discovery.

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“Free Shipping” Watercolour, Coloured Pencil. March 2026
Our overconsumption is undeniable, yet our system makes it difficult to our change habits. In this future, there is never a shortage of things to acquire, but there is a shortage of space. I illustrated a lonely house sitting atop a sea of storage boxes. Humanity's greed has left us with no room to live; products are no longer the commodity—space is.

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Image 8 Process. Visual and written discovery. Pt. 1

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Image 8 Process. Visual and written discovery. Pt. 2

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“Destination, Paradise" Watercolour, Ink, and Gouache. March 2026
Rising flight costs have made travel inaccessible for many. Dystopian solutions, such as standing seats on planes, are already being discussed. I exaggerated this by imagining a booth that allows consumers to ‘travel’ without leaving the airport. These booths feature wrap-around imagery, ambient sound, and scent dispensers, offering a simulated experience for those who cannot afford the real article.

Contact

Having completed his fourth and final year of Ontario College of Art and Design’s Bachelor of Illustration program, Cole is now available to accept contract opportunities. Feel free to connect via email or phone (phone is best) to discuss your project details.

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