This illustrative and educational project explores the deep evolutionary history of Southern Africa through the dinosaurs that once roamed its ancient landscapes. Rather than looking to the more familiar giants of North America or Asia, the work turns its focus homeward, to species whose fossils were unearthed in South Africa's own soil and whose stories remain lesser-known outside palaeontological circles.
The project brings together three pivotal species that trace a narrative arc across the early evolution of dinosaurs on this continent: Massospondylus, one of the first dinosaurs ever named by Western science, whose fossilised nests offer rare evidence of prehistoric parental care; Ledumahadi mafube, whose Sesotho name, "a giant thunderclap at dawn", captures both its imposing scale and its transitional role as a bridge between smaller bipedal ancestors and the colossal sauropods that would follow; and Dracovenator, an early large-bodied predator whose kinship with the North American Dilophosaurus (familiar to many through popular media) offers an accessible entry point into the world of theropod carnivores.
Through careful illustrative research and visual storytelling, the project translates specialised palaeontological findings into an accessible, educational format, using fact-based "Did You Know?" style content paired with illustration to engage a general audience. This research and narrative was brought to life across a range of deliverables, including posters, pins, postcards, and sticker sheets, translating scientific storytelling into tangible, collectible objects that extend the project's reach beyond the page. In doing so, the project not only celebrates Southern Africa's unique and significant contribution to our understanding of dinosaur evolution, but also demonstrates how illustration can serve as a bridge between rigorous scientific research and public science communication.