★ KAI ★
Kai Jerzö
‘Jerzovskaja’

– Welcome to the here and now –

– Portrait of Bob Dylan – Sketchbook drawing – Ink and Brush –

– Bicycle Riders Marco Pantani and Fabian Cancellara – Vector Drawings –

– Fantasy Football Illustrations for an online game on UEFA.com – Vector Drawings –

– City of Zurich Map for a Shopping Guide – Vector Drawing –

– Audiobook Double CD (Digipack) – Illustrations and Production –

– The cover of ‘FOOTBALL HEROES GOLD – The 150 Greatest Players in World Cup History’ features KAI’s iconic illustration of Maradona. The book includes illustrated portraits of 40 of the best artists worldwide, and the magazine Maxim London praised it as ‘probably the best Football Book ever made.’ The project ‘Football Heroes,’ which debuted in 1998, is the brainchild of KAI (formerly known as Jerzovskaja), who served as Creative Director, Project Manager, and CFO.

Although the term ‘Heroes’ was initially meant to be ironic when introduced by KAI, it has since become a new standard. Today, the term ‘hero’ is commonly used to refer to stars, and illustrated portraits have become commonplace. This project marked the beginning of a rise in drawn portraits that now define the web landscape. –

– In 2012, KAI curated ‘Football Heroes 2012’, the world’s first-ever sticker collectors album, timed to coincide with the start of an international football tournament. This groundbreaking album included all the players participating in the tournament. Building on a collaboration that began in 2008 with UEFA.com as a freelance art director and artist, KAI undertook the formidable task of creating cartoon depictions for all 368 players and 16 coaches who qualified for the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. These illustrations were featured on the official tournament website of UEFA.com. This extensive project unfolded over nearly a year.

As a unique aspect, KAI was given the opportunity to release a non-profit collectors’ item in a limited print run of just 1000 copies, provided it wasn’t publicly advertised. The financing for this endeavor was accomplished through what was then the largest crowdfunding campaign for a book in the German book sector. Remarkably, this collectors’ item sold out within minutes of its introduction to the market. –

– The sticker album ‘Football Heroes 2012’ featured every Euro 2012 player portrait encased in a metallic golden frame, reminiscent of the glory seen in collector’s card albums from the Golden Era of the 1920s that showcased film stars. During the 1920s, precise image offset color printing was still very expensive, and these collectible cards were enclosed in cigarette boxes and chocolate packaging to boost product sales.

‘Football Heroes 2012’ was produced using six colors for the stickers, which, combined with the four colors of the collector’s album, created a magnificent blend featuring two paper qualities and ten distinct colors. –

– For their use in UEFA publications, the portraits were presented against a white background to seamlessly blend with the Euro 2012 corporate branding. These portraits had to be versatile in various sizes, ranging from mini portraits to full-screen versions. To refine his distinctive style, KAI developed a unique technique, honed his skills, and optimized his workflow. This involved utilizing a library of 12 layers that combined different facial sections.

Since its inception in 2006, this style has been emulated hundreds of thousands of times, becoming a widespread choice among vector artists. However, due to KAI’s meticulous hand-tweaked vector points and curves, along with his unwavering dedication to perfection, his creations remain recognizable as the work of KAI (aka Jerzovskaja). –

– Presented here are the 16 teams of Euro 2012, each with 23 players and one head coach, meticulously assembled on a poster. This poster was magnificently printed on a grand scale and proudly displayed in front of the Warsaw Football Stadium during the opening match. Thanks to the trust and vision of uefa.com’s Chief Editor, David Farrelly, the one-man-volcano KAI was entrusted with overseeing this monumental project.

– Offering a brief insight into the application of the Euro 2012 player portraits, adorning an advertising pillar in front of the Warsaw Football Stadium in Poland, and gracing the individual player pages on the tournaments website. The users were allowed to switch between ‘photo mode’ and ‘cartoon mode’ by clicking on the portrait. Although Euro 2012 stood out as one of the most visited websites in 2012, only a limited number of screenshots remain. Internet fame is short lived. –

– Art Exhibition ‘French Football Heroes and Zeroes’ (2016) – Artwork and Curation – Maison Folie Wazemmes, Lille, France –

– Football Player Portraits for the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustrations –

– Football Player Portraits and Sticker Album for the 2012 UEFA European Championships (Double Spread Page) – Creative Direction and Project Design –

– Football Player Portraits of Historic All-Star Players from the UEFA European Championships 1960–2012 (Double Spread Page from the Sticker Album ‘Football Heroes 2012’) – Creative Direction and Project Design –

– Poster and Magazine Advertising for UEFA.com featuring all Football Players and Coaches from all National Teams participating in the UEFA European Championships 2012 in Poland and Ukraine – Creative Direction and Project Design –

– I’ve never invested more time in crafting a logo than for this one: Ankerherz. In this emblem, everything I passionately support comes together: the exquisite quality of hand-drawn brush strokes, the artful yet relaxed use of colors, and the fusion of diverse elements to create a logo with the timeless essence. It’s designed to thrive in two colors or burst forth in full-color cinematic splendor. Whether printed as a small insignia on a flyer or magnified on a skyscraper, it leaves a lasting imprint. This logo stands strong independently, an important feature for small and independent publishing companies that can’t afford to trademark intricate designs. –

– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Ángel di María (Argentina) – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Zico in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 1986 World Cup – Vector Illustration

– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Kaká in the AC Milan Home Kit from the 2006/07 Champions League Season – Vector Illustration for the ‘Champions League Classic Matches’ History Series on UEFA.com –

– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Vector Illustration –

– Enchanting dragon illustration created for the ‘History of Flying’. –

– KAI’s opening illustration for ‘Football Heroes Gold’ captured the essence of a book that aimed to become the definitive reference on the history of the World Cup. The artwork depicted Diego Armando Maradona, employing his legendary ‘Hand of God’ maneuver that forever altered the trajectory of a pivotal football match. This moment, etched into the annals of football history, stirs within me a mixture of emotions as I remain steadfast in my commitment to unwavering truthfulness. –

– Portrait of Swiss Football Star Admir Mehmedi in the Swiss National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of German Football Star Philipp Lahm in the FC Bayern Munich Team Home Kit from the Champions League Campaign in the 2006/07 Season – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of German Football Star Bastian Schweinsteiger in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Ivory Coast Football Legend and Hero Didier Drogba in the Home Kit of ‘Les Éléphants’ from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Dries Mertens with Two Devilish Horns and Eyes, wearing the Belgian Football National Team Home Kit from the 2014 World Cup; The Belgian Team is called ‘The Red Devils’ (‘de Rode Duivels’) – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Czechoslovakian Football Legend Antonín Panenka in the National Home Kit of 1976, standing before the Skyline of the City of Belgrade, where the Final game of the European Championship 1976 was played. Czechoslovakia won in the penalty shoot-out against Germany, with the last penalty shot by Panenka, which then became the most famous penalty in Football History – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Neymar in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States (2009–2017) – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of German Football Star Miroslav Krose in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Swiss Football Star Xherdan Shaqiri in the Swiss National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Swiss Olympics approached me for a pitch to create an electronic sticker collection album for the 2012 Olympics in London, featuring four athlete portraits and designing a fitting style. I was tasked with drawing Roger Federer (tennis), Ariella Käslin (artistic gymnastics), Mike Kurt (canoeing), and Fabian Cancellara (cycling) – four Swiss hopefuls for medals. Unfortunately, the project only progressed as far as the initial four drafts, which nevertheless remain among my favorite sports portraits. Exiting competitions with one’s head held high is also part of a designer’s daily routine. –

– Portrait of German Football Star Thomas Müller in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– Reza Ghoochannejad was the star of the Iranian national football team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the idol of a friend of mine. So, I adapted the portrait from my book ‘Brazil Football Heroes’ to make my graphic representation of Reza look great both as a poster and as a t-shirt. –

– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Thiago Silva in the Paris Saint-Germain Home Kit from the 2014/15 Season – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Argentinian Football Star Lionel Messi in the FC Barcelona Home Kit from the 2009/10 Champions League Campaign – Vector Illustration –

– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Sócrates in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 1986 World Cup – Vector Illustration –

– In 2007, the Toothfriendly International Foundation in Basel approached me to rework their renowned Toothfriendly mascot. The task was to give it a subtle refresh, a modern twist, while retaining the charm and essence of the original ‘Zahnmännchen’ (Tooth boy) character, which was drawn by a legendary artist Herbert Leupin. My objective was to give it a contemporary flair.

I created the updated drawing and proposed renaming the mascot ‘Happy Tooth’ to ensure a gender-neutral representation. It seemed to me that my rework hit the mark, as the new logo was well-received by those to whom it was presented. Interestingly, the foundation continued to use the original version of the logo up to these days, while also revisiting discussions about its name. –

– This is another logo that holds a special place in my heart. I find the little alligator delightful, amusing, and exuberantly funky. This logo even has animated versions where the reptile bares its teeth, emerges from the depths, and playfully winks an eye. It rises from the digital swamps of indistinguishable web services.

This Zurich-based startup initially intended to name their company ‘Alligatorweb.’ However, one partner deemed it too aggressive and opted for a koala instead. Thus, I crafted a koala logo, only to discover that it should be a parrot later on… –

– When a distinctive and remarkable signature voice, such as Otto Sander’s in Germany, is chosen to narrate a masterpiece you’ve spent almost a year crafting, like Stefan Kruecken’s book ‘Orkanfahrt,’ the willingness to go the extra mile becomes automatic. That’s how I found myself drawing this captain adorned with earphones during an intense 24-hour session. –

– Three hand-drawn seagulls that were created for ‘History of Flying.’ They were initially sketched using a bold pencil (6B), then scanned and subsequently refined and colored in Adobe Photoshop. –

– Editor-in-Chief Marius Leutenegger and his team achieved a remarkable feat in the early 2000s by establishing a brand with the magazine “Hangar 21” for young customers under the ‘Winterthur’ Insurance group. They successfully combined meticulous journalism tailored for young readers with a distinctive visual language.

In each issue, a different Swiss illustrator had the privilege of receiving carte blanche to create the main article and cover illustration. In 2003, I had the fortunate opportunity to illustrate the well-researched and captivating “History of Flying.”

This showcase opened the door for me to illustrate countless stories and create numerous cover illustrations in both large and small magazines and newspapers across Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, and France. For the first time, I could truly make a living from my passion for drawing. Thus, at least for me, the dream of soaring high as an illustrator had become a reality… –

– The opening double spread page of the ‘History of Flying’ intentionally left space for the accompanying written article. The overall style and ambiance of this illustration remain timeless, seamlessly blending elements from both the past and present. The illustration boasts a plethora of intricate details waiting to be explored.

The compass that underlies the entire design was meticulously crafted by KAI using his favored drawing program of all time: Macromedia FreeHand. Its memory still lingers on. Many of FreeHand’s functionalities, which Adobe failed to integrate into Illustrator after acquiring and discontinuing FreeHand, are sorely missed. –

– The pioneers featured in the portraits of ‘History of Flying’: George Cayley (1773–1857), Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896), Wilbur Wright (1867–1912), Käthe Paulus (1868–1935), Orville Wright (1871–1948), Louis Blériot (1872–1936), along with Icarus, a bat, and a determined yet somber-eyed Lilienthal engaged in another of his daring maneuvers within his semi-flying, semi-falling ‘bat-mobile’ In the background, Blériot soars towards the heavens. –

– A Zeppelin (scanned from an old newspaper), a stylized flutter of a hummingbird’s wings, and a hot air balloon, drawn with pencil, were combined with a graphical representation of winds and air currents for the ‘History of Flying’. –

– Double spread for the ‘History of Flying’. –

– In 1997, KAI graduated from Zurich art school with a diploma in teaching design. He purchased the URL illustration.ch and started creating art for payment. Alongside his work as a commissioned designer, KAI engaged in a few self-initiated projects.

These projects were printed in small quantities at KAI’s own expense, adorned with his own designed stamps, and sent to friends, acquaintances, and clients. One of these projects was KAI’s Christmas and New Year’s card, which he sent out yearly between 1993 and 2013. These cards often featured satirical religious illustrations and a poem on the reverse side.

After Bishop Haas was enthroned as Archbishop in the Chur and Zurich diocese in 1997, a decision that went against the wishes of Catholics in Zurich and Chur and was orchestrated by the Pope, KAI depicted Haas adorned in his elaborate robes and holding his pastoral staff. KAI created a strong contrast by portraying the events occurring within the bishop’s mitre and in the poem.

Bishop Haas serves as a prime example of how the Catholic Church tends to avoid addressing problems of their own making rather than solving them. They sent him to Liechtenstein, where he continued to shape the diocese with his ultra-orthodox and traditionalist approach until his resignation in 2023 (!), resulting in a division among the faithful in that region. –