Kai Jerzö – A World of Imagination
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– KAI standing between large art prints of his Michel Platini drawings for the 2016 art project ‘French Football Heroes.’ The artist was photographed by his daughter, Mika. –
– 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 that time, precise image offset color printing was still remarkably expensive, and these collectible items were often 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.
A resounding applause and heartfelt gratitude go to David – now contributing to FIFA.com – whose deep passion for football, journalism, and humanity renders him one of the most admirable individuals in today’s demanding football entertainment industry. A leader who champions quality and embodies the ‘heart of football,’ David remains a devoted supporter of the Irish ‘Lilywhites’ side of Dundalk FC. –
– 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. –
– ’20 Years Moods Jazz Club Zurich’ Music Festival at Schiffbau Hall in Zurich – Poster Advertisement Campaign –
– ’20 Years Moods Jazz Club Zurich’ Music Festival at Schiffbau Hall in Zurich – Corporate Identity Design –
For the 20th anniversary of the “Moods Jazz Club” in Zurich, KAI created eight musician characters representing all music styles featured at Moods, such as World Music, Jazz, Free Jazz, Fado, Gypsy Music, Brass Music, Indian Music, and new music genres. These characters formed a poster campaign adorning the streets of the city and canton of Zurich. Additionally, a limited number of art prints in DIN-A2 format were produced and sold, while honored guests received a series of four 7-color art prints signed by the artist in A4 format.
The drawings are carefully crafted vectors by KAI, shaped using Adobe Illustrator. The characters were featured on bar menus, tickets, and everywhere else. Artist and staff badges, postcards and festival programs were produced, and long fabric banners printed with the motifs, embellished the venerable Schiffbauhalle, home of Moods.
– ’20 Years Moods Jazz Club Zurich’ Music Festival at Schiffbau Hall in Zurich – Creative Direction –
– Advertisement for Various Subscriptions at ‘Moods Jazz Club Zurich’ – Including Cards, Brochures, and Illustrated Characters – Created with Vector Art using Adobe Illustrator –
– In 2007, together with the power couple Julia and Stephan Kruecken from Hamburg, KAI embarked on a journey that would eventually lead to one of the best-selling small publishers worldwide. Stefan Kruecken, an exceptionally talented journalist and writer renowned for his ability to capture the essence of a person with just a few words, crossed paths with Kai in his Zurich studio. Their collaboration began with Stefan’s portrait of KAI’s second ‘Football Heroes’ book in 2006, which later on garnered global acclaim. This art project united 50 esteemed illustrators from around the world, resulting in an unprecedented coffee table book that saw sales spanning from Brazil to Canada to Japan.
Stefan asked KAI to envision a book format and to craft a Corporate Identity and Brand Design for his yet to found ‘Ankerherz Verlag’. To this day, the captivating name and the book format that they developed together in the Haifisch-Bar in the heart of the port of Hamburg is still alive and rocking: Ankerherz’ glorious books merge magazine-style aesthetics with a literary approach and influenced a new generation of German books that started to become a little more funky, colourful and relaxed. Krueckens’ first publication ‘Orkanfahrt’ (Journey Through a Hurricane) became a long-standing success. It’s was in its seventh print run for the original hardbound edition in 2022 and a bestseller as a paperback published by Munich-based ‘Piper Verlag’. For ‘Orkanfahrt,’ Piper made a unique exception by printing it on the original paper in the original layout, enriched with an extra story, and adapted by KAI. The paperback so became an original in itself. –
– For the children’s books division named ‘Ankerherzchen’ and the audiobook segment of ‘Ankerherz,’ KAI created two logos that playfully incorporated the two key elements of the name: the heart and the anchor. These logos were skillfully blended with maritime motifs, ships, and captains. ‘Ankerherz’ narrates tales of captains—captains of the sea, captains of hearts, champions of global ethical standards, and leaders of their own lives.
A heartfelt cheers to Julia and Stefan, an inspiring couple distinguished by a moral compass that’s a rarity in the publishing realm. It’s an honor to have contributed to this independently-minded think tank, continuously enriching the world with each meticulously crafted book. –
– For eight years, KAI invested approximately 6,000 hours of work into documenting the history of FC Winterthur. Finally, in 2021, KAI released it as an intricately crafted book, combining images and text, under the title ‘FC Winterthur 1896–2021: 125 Jahre Schützenwiese’. –
– The primary team of FC Seuzach, comprised of numerous former professional players from FC Winterthur, achieved noteworthy success in the fourth-tier Swiss league without monetary compensation. They reached into their own pockets to engage KAI for the enhancement of their somewhat outdated club logo.
KAI revamped the logo, which essentially features the village emblem integrated with a soccer ball, for the first team, known as the ‘Einsflöten’ (‘The Number One Flutes’). The team members embraced it, and it subsequently became the visual identity used for creating match programs, merchandise, bags, posters, web banners, stickers, and autograph cards.
KAI still holds onto the hope that one day this logo will replace the club emblem that was designed around 700 years ago by the nephew of the aunt of the groundskeeper’s godson. And KAI envisions that the Mayor of Seuzach will update the official village emblem with his version, where the horse exudes a slightly greater sense of power. –
– Portrait of Bob Dylan – Sketchbook drawing – Ink and Brush –
– Bicycle Riders – Vector Drawings – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Bicycle Riders Marco Pantani and Fabian Cancellara – Vector Drawings – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Fantasy Football Illustrations for an online game on UEFA.com – Vector Drawings – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– City of Zurich Map for a Shopping Guide – Vector Drawing – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Audiobook Double CD (Digipack) – Illustrations and Production – Created with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Football Player Portraits and Sticker Album for the 2012 UEFA European Championships (Double Spread Page) – Creative Direction and Project Design – Vector Illustrations created with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign –
– 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 – Vector Illustrations created with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign –
– 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 – Vector Illustrations created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Ángel di María (Argentina) – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Zico in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 1986 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator. –
– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Lionel Messi (Argentina) – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
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– Portrait of Swiss Football Star Admir Mehmedi in the Swiss National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of German Football Star Bastian Schweinsteiger in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Ivory Coast Football Legend and Hero Didier Drogba in the Home Kit of ‘Les Éléphants’ from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Neymar in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States (2009–2017) – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of German Football Star Miroslav Krose in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Swiss Football Star Xherdan Shaqiri in the Swiss National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Ramires in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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 Swiss Football Star Stephan Lichtsteiner in the Swiss National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Thiago Silva in the Paris Saint-Germain Home Kit from the 2014/15 Season – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Argentinian Football Star Lionel Messi in the FC Barcelona Home Kit from the 2009/10 Champions League Campaign – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Sergio Agüero (Argentina) – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Football Player Portrait for the 2014 World Cup: Javier Mascherano (Argentina) – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of German Football Star Toni Kroos in the German National Team Kit from the 2014 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– Portrait of Brazilian Football Star Sócrates in the Brazil National Team Kit from the 1986 World Cup – Vector Illustration – Created with Adobe Illustrator –
– 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.
In this modest emblem, I’ve encapsulated the boundless allure of open skies, expansive harbors, and the untamed sea. It carries hints of home and ‘heimat,’ evoking a heartwarming sensation deep within. ‘It should be akin to a tattoo that every captain or sailor yearns to etch on their muscled forearm,’ Stefan once said to me. And here it is. Over time, it has also been inked onto dozens, if not hundreds, of arms, backs, chests, and breasts—thanks to a tattoo contest Ankerherz hosted on its Facebook account long ago.
If you decide to adorn it on your arm as well, I would be thrilled if you could send me a photo for my private collection. –
– 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.
By adopting the name ‘Happy Tooth,’ the gender-related issue could be effectively resolved in a happy manner. Please contact me if the time for my rework should be now to get my moost toothfriendly smile on the subject. These funky vectors are still sleeping happily and undamaged on one of my harddiscs stuffed together with other sleeping marvels and princesses. –
– 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… Unfortunately, the company struggled to gain investor confidence. –
– 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.
The design needed to be bold, rounded, and unequivocally clear, as the final reproduction size remained uncertain. I recall the designer’s last proposal, with the logo scaled to the dimensions of an audio CD resting under the crystal-clear holder. Yet, the details of the final artwork have faded. During that time, my focus during the days was on cherishing moments with my newborn daughter, basking in her giggles and joy. Her drawings remain preserved, while my own work took a back seat during that precious period. –
– 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 in 2003. –
– 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’. –
– 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.
Could Maradona have attained the status of World Champion without resorting to such cunning tactics? Yet, my heart seems to gravitate toward these street-smart conjurers: Zinédine Zidane, the man who famously received a red card in a World Cup final for striking an opponent who had insulted his family, assumes my second figure of footballing reverence, while the Brazilian maestro Sócrates, renowned for his intellectual finesse and fondness for fine wine, occupies the third position in my admiration. Michel Platini, the hero who played without ankle protection and endorsed the controversial Qatar World Cup bid, finds himself in the fourth spot on this list. –
– This depiction of a pirate remains one of the most impactful and compelling images that KAI has produced to date. It possesses a raw, intense, ironic, and amusing quality all at once. It was introduced as one of the five chapter illustrations in the book ‘Orkanfahrt,’ setting the tone for the section dedicated to ‘Pirates and Mutineers.’ The artistic style was conceived to inject vibrancy and rawness into the book, , subtly steering it towards a more magazine-style aesthetic rather than the conventional photobook format. However, for the book, a slightly toned-down version with less blood and horror was used.
The ‘bloody version’ you see here was utilized for postcards, posters, book previews, and was even featured on a rum bottle. KAI created this digital illustration within minutes. Sometimes, you strike gold and hit the target immediately. And when you hold the role of Creative Director, you have the audacity to take the leap. In extensive projects for global corporations, pieces like this typically serve to entertain yourself and elicit a smile from your client, before eventually transitioning to a more conventional version that aligns with political correctness.
In essence, this illustration encapsulates KAI’s unrestrained and unpolished artistic as well as human side. –
– 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. –