Portrait of Audrey Tang
Client: RSA Journal
Art Director: Hayden Russell
This is an animated pixel art portrait of Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s first Minister of Digital Affairs, that Jude created for the cover of RSA Journal.
Project Goals
Leah Clarkson, Editor of the RSA Journal, said in a recent behind the scenes video: ”For our cover, we commissioned Jude Buffum to create a portrait of Audrey [Tang] in his signature pixel art style, to emphasize the ways that new digital democracy platforms are uniting the public through techniques such as gamification."
Project Realization
The pixel art portrait of Audrey was featured on the cover of the RSA Journal’s second issue of 2024, while the animated version appeared on the cover of their digital edition.
Creative Process
Based on a photo provided by RSA Journal, Jude meticulously translated Audrey’s key features and expressions into his signature 8-bit style, aiming to capture both her likeness and personality. Once the static portrait was complete, he brought Audrey to life with subtle animations—adding a gentle breathing motion and a soft light glare effect—to give the piece a quiet, lifelike presence for the digital edition.
