The Navigator
The Navigator lighthouse logo
U

Mackenzie Beck

Art Director
Mackenzie is a fourth-year Bachelor of Graphic Design student at VIU. She graduated from VIU’s Fisheries and Aquaculture program in 2019 and has now returned to school in pursuit of a more creative career path. She has a passion for beautiful typography, nature photography, and not turning on the “big light” (lamps only!). She spends her free time backpacking and hiking around Vancouver Island. Despite her love for the outdoors, you can usually find this homebody getting cozy inside her plant-filled house.

Volume 57 | Art Director

Everything by Mackenzie Beck

Mackenzie Beck
Volume 57 Issue No. 2 cover. Black and white illustration of various holiday decorations bursting out of a cardboard box.

57(2) Cover

A digital illustration of a pale woman with flowing blonde hair and red lips holding a green bird and a green bunny in her cupped hands. Her nails are painted a light coral colour. The soft, pastel colour palette gives the image a gentle, dreamlike quality, with warm beige and golden tones in the background. The bird and bunny appear peaceful, symbolizing spring themes of kindness, nature, fertility, and harmony in line with the spirit of Easter or Eostre.

Easter Spirits

March 19, 2025
A stylized digital illustration of a noir-inspired elderly white Italian male mob boss wearing a black fedora and trench coat, holding a pistol pointed toward the viewer. The figure's face is mostly obscured by the hat, with only a stern, angular lower face visible. The artwork uses a bold, graphic style with sharp edges, geometric forms, and a limited color palette of red, black, white, and gray. The background is textured red with black splatter effects, enhancing the dramatic and gritty atmosphere.

Mob Ties

March 17, 2025
A symmetrical butterfly design made from a red liquid on a white background. The design has a fluid, organic appearance, resembling inkblot art or blood smears.

Butterfly Virus

February 7, 2025
Cover design for Volume 56, No. 6. A stylized illustration of a bright orange lighthouse with a spiral design, emitting light rays from the top. The lighthouse is surrounded by large, pink daisy-like flowers with blue centers. The background is a soft beige color, inspired by retro vintage aesthetics. The artwork has a somewhat modern, minimalist, and playful style.

56(6) Cover

March 2025
A digitally stylized image of a woman standing in front of a wall covered in colorful sticky notes, pointing at one with her right hand. The image has an impressionistic, painterly effect with swirling textures and blended colors, giving it an abstract feel. In the foreground, blurred figures appear to be listening or participating in the session. This artwork represents what visually diverse students may see.

Visually Diverse

February 12, 2025
A cartoon-style illustration features a friendly, anthropomorphic lighthouse character with a light blue body, black arms and legs, and large expressive eyes. The character is smiling, holding a small book, and giving a thumbs-up. Surrounding the character are decorative elements, including purple hearts and radiating lines. The background has a textured, off-white color. To the right, bold, playful text reads

56(5) Cover: Love Where You Learn

February 2025
Watercolour illustration of a river and some rocks titled

Stomaching the Landscape

Featured in the print edition of The Navigator Volume 56 (I)
Illustration of a cozy room with a photographed wintery view through two large windows. The caramel coloured wooden floor and dark green walls complement the warm tones of a yellow-orange armchair. Leaning against the wall are a pair of red skis. A wooden bookshelf displays books, a bust, and a potted plant with trailing vines. Snow-covered trees are visible outside.

56(4) Cover

January 2025, "Apres Ski in the Book Nook"
A pharmacist holding up a smartphone displaying a tipping prompt with options of 15%, 20%, 25%, and

How much is your health worth?

November 13, 2024
A watercolor-style illustration of a blue lighthouse with light rays emanating from its top. The background features an assortment of autumn leaves, mushrooms, twigs, and a small frog, all scattered randomly in soft, earthy colors against a textured paper background.

56(3) Cover

November 2024
A desert-like scene at sunset with foreground featuring a close-up hand holding three prepaid VISA cards. In the background, a solitary figure stands with arms outstretched, carrying paint cans in each hand. Cacti and tumbleweeds are scattered across the parking lot.

Final Paycheque Fiasco

October 16, 2024