Environmental groups often use frightening images to sound the alarm on big issues — but to be effective at inspiring action, climate-related visuals need to promote hope rather than fear. Here, eight designs with an optimistic vision, and how the artists are driving change in their own lives.

Giving a good presentation is much harder than it looks. Speakers have to figure out what they want to say and what they want a viewer to grasp — and then decide how to bring the two together in a compelling manner. In his TED Talk, Jon Mooallem used whimsical illustrations to make a serious point. Check them out.

Who else but Maira Kalman would come up with a series of images dedicated to “girls standing on lawns”? Here, the artist explains her fascination with the subject matter, and shares some of her favorite paintings.