“Bench” to “Business”. “Academia” versus “Industry”.
These terms are often written side-by-side as an act of juxtaposition, with an intention to
highlight differences over similarities. Yet “Bench” and “Business” are co-dependent entities,
with one thriving due to the success of the other. Without the rigorous experiments conducted at
the bench, ideation and subsequent commercialization of life-saving therapies would be
impossible. Without the commercial and therapeutic success of scientific innovation, public
interest and funding which are required for continued research would diminish. For this issue’s
cover, I chose to visually represent both the dichotomy and mutuality of “Bench” and
“Business”. The cover is clearly divided into two parts. There are two hands facing opposite
directions – one is gloved and holding a tube while the other presents a pill in front of a cash-pile
backdrop. Nevertheless, the two hands are inevitably a pair, as if they share a joining body and
are simply protruding out of two sides of a small, black portal. Ultimately, I hope this abstract
illustration provokes the readers’ deeper curiosity for how two seemingly contrasting fields,
“Bench” and “Business”, not only coexist but synergize with one another.
Jennifer Ahn, Design Director
Jennifer Ahn
Latest posts by Jennifer Ahn (see all)
- IMMpress Volume 13 Issue 3 – From Bench to Business - January 25, 2026
- Michelle Letarte: Building Community with Art and Science - October 2, 2025
- Shaping Identity with Science & Art: Mahmoud El-Maklizi - October 2, 2025
