“The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired,” Stephen Hawking observed in his bestselling book of popular physics A Brief History of Time (1988). Inspired by the quote, Paris-based graphic designer Thomas Pomarelle – a recent graduate of École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris – has developed a personal project called “A Matter of Balance” that imagines the major universal laws of physics as basic illustrations.

In this simple and beautiful exercise that blends art and science, Thomas uses ladders and spirals, spheres and cubes to arrive at the essence of natural phenomena like gravitation and resistance and dynamism and stability.

“I wanted to make something contemplative,” explains Thomas, “and something that could question the public. But I didn’t want to get too explicit or specific, as encyclopedic pictures can be. So I came up with these illustrations, cold and disruptive, that allow some reveries.”

Thomas’s clients include Leo Burnett NY, Zoomin and Hermès. You can learn more about him on his website (www.thomaspomarelle.com). His links: Twitter (@PomThomas), Behance (www.behance.net/thomaspomarelle), Dribbble (dribbble.com/ThomasPomarelle) and Vimeo (vimeo.com/thomaspomarelle).

Images used with permission.