Leister specializes in conceptual illustration, taking a manuscript and interpreting it visually. Commissions have ranged from exhibition posters for the Smithsonian Institution to covers for Time, Businessweek and Forbes magazine. Highlights include the Raspberry Zinger packaging for Celestial Seasonings and the cover for the Newbury Award winning book Catherine Called Birdy.

Partial client list: American Express, Atlantic Monthly, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Businessweek, Celestial Seasonings, Councel for Higher Education, Der Speigel, Fortune, Forbes, IBM, IRS, James River Paper Company, Kohler, LA Times, MacUser, Marriott, New York Times, Newsweek, NIH, Oracle, PCWorld, Readers Digest, Riggs Bank, Smithsonian Institute, TIAA Cref, Thompson Financial, Time Magazine, USNews, US State Department, USIA, Washington Post, Wieden and Kennedy