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This reply from interviewee and Professor of Comics Nick Sousanis was to one of our audience who kindly shared it with the group (with Nick's permission).

 

 

Your artworks are inspirational, as an aspiring illustrator I have learned a lot from your work. It gave me a different perspective to look at layout design and their importance which can be reflected in the experience for the reader. As you are an illustrator as well as someone with a mathematical background I have a few questions which I would like to ask.

 

Thank you! Very cool about art and mathematics background! You didn’t ask, but since people often ask connection between my study of mathematics and comics - one of my responses has to do with a wonderful proofs class and teacher that I had. And how much he really emphasized the importance of writing up everything in a proof well organized, neatly, and as clearly as possible. I think that concept of making all the pieces fit together that was essential to proof has carried over into my comics-making - really thinking about how everything works together and is carefully organized to make its argument… 

 

I want to work on educational books, board games, and puzzles especially for children (aged 8-15 years) to familiarize them with the field of mathematics and science in a friendly way that can help them understand the basics of these complex subjects before introducing theorems and equations in schools. I want this to be a resource which will encourage them to study these subjects in greater depth. As a part of my study, I worked in collaboration (last year, when I was doing freelance work) on a calendar design game where we got positive results in terms of engagement with the game. Currently, I am referring to a book by Carlos Pazos 'Quantum Physics for Smart Kids’

 

Cool project! I’m not familiar with that book - but sounds great! 

 

I would like to ask for your advice on how to approach these subjects and factors to keep in mind while dealing with complex topics? 

and If you can recommend resources that can be referred to or anyone I can connect with for research?

 

Good question! I’m not sure I’m the ideal person to answer it, as my work tends to be for older folks. I stress that my work is not simplifying or dumbing down, but rather creating access to otherwise difficult ideas. A big part of this for me is about language - stripping out field and genre specific words, cutting out (or explaining) vocabulary that your reader won’t know - the things that keep them out of the conversation. This is obviously even more true writing for children. At the same time, I’m pretty obsessed with getting things right. That is not reducing the science to a general overview, but trying to get the perspective of someone who really knows the material. So I may not share all that I know about something, but I know mountains more of research to ensure what words and images I put down, are all accurate and not misrepresenting the ideas. To me it matters that the lone expert in the field who might read your work - knows that you know what you were talking about even if 99% of your audience wouldn’t have any idea whether it was right or wrong. Again, with children you have to pare down still further - but I think there are great opportunities to explore visual metaphors and metaphorical language to get the idea across in a way that they understand and that stays true to the material. 

 

As for resources - look at a lot of books! I’m a big fan of Jay Hosler’s science comics - he’s great, can read with my youngest and it both teaches us a lot and is a lot of fun to read. It works for me and for a five year old. And I think that’s the most successful children’s works can be from Pixar to science comics - it works on both levels. I have a bunch on science comics on my site here https://spinweaveandcut.com/education-science_comics/ (though it’s getting out of date) - and among other resources on my site, this might be useful and links to other things about thinking about making comics: 

 

https://spinweaveandcut.com/teach-your-own-comics-classes/

 

Good luck and have fun with it!