those 3 reps

Growing Ideas into Visual Stories: James for the Texas Medical Association

Texas Medicine came to Those 3 Reps knowing they needed the right illustrator for a specific kind of challenge. They had a cover that needed to work as a single cohesive illustration and also break apart into spot illustrations for the interior, all while carrying multiple themes across rural healthcare, university research, mission-driven learning, and medical education across Texas. We knew exactly who to call. We brought James Nelson in, and he didn't flinch when the concept expanded midway through, growing from "The Education Issue" into "Mission Driven / The Education Issue" with more storytelling ground to cover.

What he came back with was a tree built from books, a student climbing a ladder into its branches, a lab set against an open field, and a water tower that roots the whole thing firmly in Texas. Dense on paper, but the finished piece feels considered and optimistic rather than crowded. The tree of books became the client's favorite detail almost immediately, which makes sense because it does exactly what a good editorial illustration is supposed to do. It gives you an entry point and then keeps rewarding you the longer you look. For James it was also a return to editorial work, a space he explored earlier in his career with D Magazine, now expressed through a style that has grown considerably since then. If you're working on a project where the ideas are bigger than the page and you need someone who can find the through line, reach out and we'll introduce you to James.