Remembering Illustrator Harry Campbell

Harry Campbell, a renowned illustrator and longtime IEEE Spectrum contributor, recently passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Harry’s innovative style and unique approach toward technology topics were a perfect fit for Spectrum, and his contributions spanned two decades and five redesigns.

Harry also created compelling illustrations for The New York Times, Scientific American, and Time, and he was recognized for his excellent work by the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers.

A common thread running through Harry’s work for Spectrum was his exploded-view perspective that drew from engineering drafting vernacular. He applied this technique to all of his illustrations for us, whether the topic was advanced technologies or the disquieting effects of technology on society. Harry preferred to develop his own concepts, graciously telling me at times “No offense, but…” when I offered up an idea for a story. The end result was always a unique and beautiful illustration appreciated by our readers and the Spectrum staff. His images reminded us that technology isn’t just an abstraction—it is also deeply human.

Below is a sample of Harry’s work for IEEE Spectrum over the years.

From “The Trouble With Multicore,” IEEE Spectrum, July 2019.

From “Engineering in the Twilight of Moore’s Law,” IEEE Spectrum, March 2018.

From “The Chain Reaction That Propels Civilization,” IEEE Spectrum, May 2022.

From “Changing the Transistor Channel,” IEEE Spectrum, July 2013.

From “Bitcoin: The Cryptoanarchists’ Answer to Cash,” IEEE Spectrum, June 2012.

From “The Screen Is the Speaker,” IEEE Spectrum, March 2024.

From “Antifragile Systems,” IEEE Spectrum, March 2013.

From IEEE Spectrum, March 2024.

From “The Creepy New Digital Afterlife Industry,” IEEE Spectrum, November 2023.

​IEEE Spectrum