Accounting Gone Wild… Again.
Posted: June 29, 2011 Filed under: Accounting, Accounting and Art, Accounting Firms, Accounting Professionals | Tags: accountants, accounting, Accounting and Art, accounting firms, accounting professionals Leave a comment »
Click to enlarge.
Last month we introduced you to Chris Schroeder, a caricature artist from Erie, Pa., who was commissioned to design a graphical, creative illustration of an income statement for a local company that assists early childhood learning facilities.
Schroeder was recently asked to participate in a continuation of that project with the same company, and create some new illustrations for another project.
The new designs will be used to visually represent the basic accounting principles covered in five separate chapters in a training manual for business owners of early childhood learning facilities, during a 2-day workshop this month.
The goal for the manual was essentially the same as the income statement: create a fun, entertaining visual representation of accounting that is easy to understand.
(If there’s anyone who can accomplish such a task, Schroeder is definitely it.)
“I think these types of illustrations work well for early childhood learning facility owners because they connect directly with that audience. They are people who are always around children and it’s a fun way to show them how basic accounting principles can apply to their world,” said Schroeder.
Check out the full story (and part 1 if you missed it) on his blog, Save the Doodle.
Creative Design, Accounting Style: The Story of the “Fun” Income Statement
Posted: April 19, 2011 Filed under: Accounting, Accounting and Art | Tags: accounting, Accounting and Art, save the doodle 3 Comments »Most people don’t think of income statements as “creative” or “fun.”
And why would they?
Direct costs, operating costs, gross income, net income, interest, tax and other expenses – there’s nothing fun about any of those things, is there?
If you’re an artist there is.
Click through for larger image.
Schroeder featured his latest creation on his blog, Save the Doodle, an illustration business he runs from his home, meant to inspire and motivate readers to “grab a pen and doodle daily.”
An art major in college, Schroeder notes that after failing a final accounting exam, his professor pulled him aside to explain how art can compliment accounting by making things like annual reports look more appealing and readable.
He says he didn’t think much about what his professor said – until he was recently approached to design the income statement, that is.
“Art is applicable to any industry,” says Schroeder. “The big challenge was to create a flow in the poster. It had to be clear and easy to read, without too many labels.”
The final product looked nothing like a typical income statement – which of course, was the point. A unique, visual representation of an income statement? Mission accomplished.
Hey, I wonder if a graphical representation of my checking account could help me out. On second thought – never mind. I’m getting pretty scary visuals just thinking about it.
