HistoryShots graphics win two awards at the 2007 AIGA Design Show.


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What We Do
We create high-quality information graphics that provide context to interesting subjects, time periods and events. Three of our graphics have won awards and have been recognized by the AIGA, the professional association for design. Most of our graphics are originals, created in collaboration with a graphic design firm. A few designs are reproductions of restored antique graphics. Each graphic is created by integrating detailed content and data with a beautiful design. Our works are developed with great care, objectively presenting accurate data derived from reliable sources. Our plan is to build a deep, high-quality and timeless catalog of informational graphics.

Each original graphic is handcrafted over a long period of time. About half the time is devoted to research and data collection. After most of the data is collected we might try as many as a dozen rough designs before settling on a final design. Often the main issue is how to display the multi-variable data sets within an easy to follow and intriguing design. The final design is executed with our graphic design partner. Then for each print, a specific high-quality, archival paper is selected based on the paper color, weight and characteristics. Finally, the work is printed in a small press run on a Heidelberg offset press. During the printing process, the ink colors are manually checked and modified to create the best final print possible.

Our Story
We met at a software company about 15 years ago. In 1994 we started an information-based Internet company outside of Boston, Massachusetts. After a number of years we sold the company and took time off to be with our families. After thinking about what we wanted to do next and considering various ideas, we started HistoryShots. It seemed like the perfect blend of our desire to create something new with our interest in history and information graphics that provide big picture context. Our inspirations come from many diverse people and graphical works, but in particular the works of Charles Joseph Minard and Edward Tufte of Yale University stand out.

Our first two prints were created in parallel: Race to the Moon and the History of the Political Parties. Race to the Moon was an original design while the Political Parties was a reproduction of a 100 year-old graphic. Since then we’ve developed a number of other graphics including the History of the Confederate Army which won the prestigious Best of New England design award.

Our goal is to build a large catalog of graphics that cover a wide range of topics. This is a long-term venture because the creation process is lengthy, but we enjoy the journey from raw idea to completed print. In addition to learning more about the subject matter, we learn more about information design with every new graphic we develop.

We believe good information graphics should have interesting design, include complex data, tell a story, and be educational and entertain the viewer. We hope you buy our prints, hang them on your walls, and share them with your friends. Thank you for visiting us.

Larry Gormley and Bill Younker