Manchester, United Kingdom–based illustrator Ollie Hirst describes himself as a “bionic man,” an identity that has been integral to his exploration of illustration. “I’m a lifelong cardiac pacemaker patient; I’ve just had pacemaker number five, and I’ve had them for all of my conscious memory,” he says. “Being bionic is my normal. I don’t know any different.” A lifelong artist who always sought to capture the external world, Hirst joined the bachelor’s program at the Norwich University of the Arts where he was propelled by visualizing his internal sensations caused by his pacemaker as well as the experiences of patients with similar conditions. Upon graduating, he went on to work at a Manchester-based ad agency specializing in health and pharmacy campaigns. “I learned how the world of advertising works: how to pitch, how art direction and design are done, and how illustrators are commissioned for projects,” Hirst recalls. “After a few years working in health advertising, I decided to make the switch to full-time freelancing and have been a full-time professional illustrator since December 2020.” With clients in his portfolio like AstraZeneca, the BBC, New Scientist magazine and the New York Times, he brings a conceptual approach to portraying scientific and technological concepts to make them relatable to audiences, using vibrant color palettes that catch their eyes. “I want my work to grab your attention, hold it and be an example of why we should continue to value the role illustration as a visual communication tool,” Hirst says. “I aim to translate science, health and tech into vivid human stories, a powerful mantra I’m using to guide my career and encapsulate the vision I have for my work for leading platforms, publications, brands and agencies across the globe.”