For my senior project, I created a non-profit organization that seeks to educate on the coral bleaching crisis and how that has affected our world’s oceans and beyond. I secondarily aimed to inform the audience of what they can do daily to help.

Sketches

In the beginning, I spent a lot of time researching coral bleaching. I began to explore through sketches what my exhibition space could look like.

For this project, I used infographics as my primary way to convey various topics to the audience.

Logo Exploration

Quickly, I finalized my color palette and figured out how to use that in designing my logo. It took some time to decide on a name; White Out is a node to how when coral bleaches, it turns completely white, and the globe is currently experiencing a coral bleaching crisis, so all over, instead of beautiful colorful scenery, it is a White Out.

Once the name was selected, I sketched various logotypes in all styles and orientations. From there, I chose a couple that were the most compelling and refined them further.

Ultimately, the logotype with the hand encompassing the coral was chosen as it characterized the level of compassion the brand would have in conserving coral reefs. From there, it was refined into its final design, where the negative space is significantly reduced, and the coral is much more sturdy and less wispy.

Artist Statement

From 2014-2017, the world’s largest coral bleaching event occurred in which 70% of the world’s coral entered what can be thought of as the first stage of death. Without advocacy and conservation, we will see more mass die-offs of coral reefs, negatively impacting marine and human life. My goal for this show is to provide the audience with information on conserving coral reefs. They are vital to ocean health for a multitude of reasons: Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and vital habitats, even though they only cover 0.1% of the earth's ocean surface. They are able to provide a habitat for at least 25% of all marine species. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, protection, and new medicines. Climate change, pollution, and human interaction are wreaking havoc. Whether you live 5 miles away or 50,000, it is essential that we all begin to do our part as everything we use ends up in the sea eventually.

White Out is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate the general public about coral bleaching. Discusses easy steps that can be taken in everyday life to help limit stressors that corals may experience and seeks to discuss conservation efforts further. Along with the climate crisis comes increased environmental education; however, most of it is difficult to digest and seems impossible to solve. We all know the information is essential, yet our harsh reality is almost too brutal to sit and listen to. Information on how to help and what needs to be done is conveyed to the audience through infographics and illustrations. With such a heavy topic, I wanted the colors, graphics, and type to all be inviting to the audience.

My sister, a marine biologist, has heavily influenced my focus on topics like these, continuously bringing to my attention the importance of these issues. I looked to artists like Owen Davey for his illustrations that, while seemingly simple, are exceptionally visually compelling. He utilizes shape, texture, and color in a way that brings so much life to what he creates. While stylistically, my work is very different; I plan to develop a body of work that is as visually striking and draws the audience in.

Exhibition

White Out and four other senior exhibitions were displayed from April 10-15.

The exhibit consisted of eight infographics, eight supplemental pieces, multiple sea creatures/trash, large coral pieces, a wooden pop-up booth, and various takeaways were displayed on the booth.

Audience members moved through the exhibit from left to right, learning about coral, coral bleaching, and the effects that loss has had. Viewers would end up at the takeaway booth, with held prints with information on how you can help on the back and screen-safe sunscreens, small pieces of coral, stickers, and tote bags.