Armin Schieb

Armin Schieb illustrates the complex social life of wood ants in The Ant Collective. The research and design process, which spanned several years, culminated in this 128-page book. Using a single motif as an example, we offer insight into the meticulous process behind the creation of this unique book on biology.

In an initial pencil sketch, Armin Schieb planned the motif, perspective, page breaks and text placement.

The second draft focuses on the motif of food exchange. Originally, the book was planned as a slipcase containing eight double-sided leporellos.

3D design of a worker ant feeding a queen.

Suitable reference images are essential for accurate and scientifically correct reconstruction.

For the enlarged view, Armin Schieb refined the contours around the mouth and the delicate legs.

Colour mapping and textures make the surface appear extremely realistic.

Even the density of the hairs is carefully considered.

In the book, this finished double-page spread is one section of a composition divided into four parts.

When unfolded, the image measures 64.6" x 11.2". It is even scalable up to 4.2 meters. It shows the worker ant’s anatomy on the left and the feeding process on the right.

The book is published in many languages. The English version is available at Princeton University Press.

Review
"Any beekeeper is bound to be interested in this superb graphics-based insight into of the world of ants ... That's how powerful, pleasing and engaging this book is. It's a gem." Stephen Fleming, Bee Craft

"Beautifully illustrated and easy-to-read."
Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today

"There has never been an ant book anything like The Ant Collective. Schieb's illustrations use 3-D enhancement rendering technology in order to bring the ants into incredibly sharp focus, from the tips of their pretarsus to the slope of their tergite. Schieb doesn't merely tell the reader where ants are going . . . he shows it all in such incredible detail that no review reproduction can do justice to the results."
Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly

"Armin Schieb provides us with a detailed examination of the workings of an ant colony, supported by a gallery of computer-generated images that are breathtaking. You will see the intricacies of life in ant society in ways you have never seen before."
David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

"This remarkable scientific study ... features captivating drawings."
Ron Charles, Washington Post

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to explore the world of these tiny insects even further? We are collecting ideas for an exhibition featuring huge panoramic images, sculptures and immersive experiences. Are you interested? Get in touch with us.

Another scene shows ants building an ant hill

With Extended Reality headsets like Apple Vision Pro, visitors can enjoy immersive experiences that allow them to examine the ant and it's habitat in great detail.