By Jason McDowell Creative Director Published Apr 14, 2021 at 2:01 PM Photography: Jason McDowell

When outsiders think of Milwaukee, they see images of beer, cheese and sausages, but it's the residents of the city that understand the true fabric of its daily life. Hardly a day goes by when we don’t see the Milverine riding atop the Milwaukee Lion battling over-sized cryptosporidium. And who doesn’t roll their eyes at the crazy antics of our own odd couple, Bernie Brewer and the Bronze Fonz? And we can practically set our watches to the mayor taking his lunch outside of City Hall. Only in the 414, right?

So please enjoy these charming, subtle, Norman-Rockwellian renderings of typical daily life in the city.

Illustration of Bango dunking the People's Flag over The Calling
Bango dunks the People’s Ball off of "The Calling."
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Illustration of Mayor Tom Barrett climbing atop Milwaukee City Hall holding a brat.
Mayor Tom Barrett climbs atop Milwaukee City Hall with a captive brat.
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Illustration of the Milverine riding the Milwaukee Lion into Lake Michigan to fight a giant Cryptosporidium
The Milverine commands the Milwaukee Lion to battle a giant cryptosporidium in Lake Michigan.
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An illustration of Judge Derek Mosely riding a Harley-Davidson over the Hoan Bridge.
Derek Mosley rides a Harley-Davidson over the Hoan Bridge.
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An illustration of the Bronze Fonz sliding down Bernie Brewer's dugout slide
The Bronze Fonz slides out of Bernie’s Brewer dugout.
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Jason McDowell Creative Director

Jason McDowell grew up in central Iowa and moved to Milwaukee in 2000 to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

In 2006 he began working with OnMilwaukee as an advertising designer, but has since taken on a variety of rolls as the Creative Director, tackling all kinds of design problems, from digital to print, advertising to branding, icons to programming.

In 2016 he picked up the 414 Digital Star of the Year award.

Most other times he can be found racing bicycles, playing board games, or petting dogs.