The Oil & Gas Year (TOGY)
The Oil & Gas Year – Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 2016
Editorial Infographic / Watercolor Illustration
In this unique visual feature for The Oil & Gas Year – KRG 2016, the traditional “Christmas tree” oilfield structure was reimagined as a metaphorical hub connecting the region’s top energy executives. A Christmas tree, in oilfield terminology, is a complex valve assembly that controls oil flow. In this piece, it becomes a symbolic axis of collaboration—each executive positioned as a vital valve, contributing to the flow of ideas, investments, and influence.
Set against a watercolor-washed industrial background, the artwork was designed to synthesize editorial storytelling and industry symbolism. Each executive quote branches from the core of the tree, visually expressing the collective hopes, strategic plans, and reflections of six major companies active in the region, including KAR Group, Gulf Keystone, Addax Petroleum, Genel Energy, Maersk Oil, and NewAge.
This layout captured not only their shared optimism following government payment reforms, but also highlighted how infrastructure, policy, and partnership intertwine in a fragile yet determined regional economy. The infographic was placed prominently in the publication to show both thought leadership and the technical backbone of KRG’s energy future.
Energy policy may shift, but what fuels momentum is the network of aligned leaders. This artwork turned a technical structure into a storytelling device—transforming a Christmas tree into a symbol of stability, transparency, and multilateral resilience across Iraq’s oil frontier.
The Christmas tree feature marked a turning point in TOGY’s visual strategy. It wasn’t just a static portrait spread—it was a systems map turned into art. It helped TOGY visually express the impact of recent production-sharing reforms while creating a visually digestible anchor for a politically sensitive topic.
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Frequent iterations: The site had to be redesigned, tested, and updated often—sometimes weekly—to reflect evolving campaign needs, partnership strategies, and regional content.
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Wide audience range: Balancing content for children, educators, sponsors, and institutions required precise UX segmentation and visual consistency.
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Limited resources: During early phases, content and media assets were sparse, which required creative design thinking to keep quality and trust high.
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