Vaquita
Information Design
OVERVIEW
This project focuses on informing adults about the vaquita’s critical endangerment and the financial systems that sustain the illegal trade of totoaba swim bladders. The goal was to use visual storytelling to present the information in a memorable way, and encourage broader reflection on how economic motives continue to shape environmental destruction.
SERVICES
Layout Design, Illustration, Information Design
The overall aesthetic is designed to be visually compelling, yet allowing readers to absorb the information with clarity. The project's visual identity is built around a restrained colour palette. Soft and deep blues reflect the depth and stillness of the ocean, while a contrasting burnt red evokes urgency, referencing the danger, conflict, and human interference. An off-white ties the visuals together, chosen to complement with textured, eco-friendly paper often used in sustainable publishing.
OVERALL AESTHETIC
The opening spread features an illustrated cover of money, replacing Benjamin Franklin with a vaquita portrait styled like a banknote engraving. This visually links the animal directly to the theme of monetary value and exploitation. I positioned the entire narrative within an illustrated, story-driven framework. An accordion-fold format was chosen to guide readers through the topic as though descending gradually into the ocean. Each fold reveals another layer of the story and the issues surrounding the vaquita.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
For the title, I wanted to echo the currency design and integrate with the theme of economic value. Futura was chosen for body text because of its clarity and contemporary feel, allowing smooth reading across tightly structured pages. The layout guides readers through the narrative with deliberate pacing and visual rhythm.
TYPOGRAPHY & LAYOUT
