How to communicate the complex issue of plastic pollution to a young target audience and their parents.
Isabelle Merry Self Reflection
Perranporth Beach & the Plastic Pollution Problem is a website that aims to teach children about the dangers to our ecosystem if the plastic pollution problem was to continue as normal. It stemmed from a quote by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that “By 2050, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish” (2017).
Originally a proposal for a pop-up exhibition in the Museum of Childhood, London, I adapted the outcome to fit the circumstances that Covid-19 made us face as I could not research the proposed space to the standard I wanted without visiting the museum itself. In a sense, I created an online version of this exhibition.
You are welcomed by a landing page which points to three directions, the beach, a charity page and a parent's page. On ‘the beach’, each sea creature you click on takes you through to a different problem about how plastic pollution affects the wildlife which is written out in simple terms so a young child could understand. There are also three options which click through to a solutions page because without them the website would be too pessimistic. The ‘parent’s page’ differs as it is a singular page to inform how the website works and how they can assist their child to become eco-friendly. Finally the ‘charity page’ has a list of charity websites which have more information about the plastic problem as a whole and even more ways to help.
The user experience of this website was designed and prototyped in Adobe XD which included all of the interactive elements and background illustration as well as the written information.
I identified the leading dangers of plastic pollution that coastal ecosystems faced with clear, high standard illustrations which were painted in gouache, even though I am still learning this new technique of painting. Furthermore, I learnt new, complex software to fulfill the final outcome in Adobe XD.
My research was thorough and varied between the Museum of Childhood archives, emailing charities and reading numerous articles and research papers about this topic. I reached out to potential collaborators to show support by including their website and contact info in the details of the project to bring awareness of the positive work they’re doing.
My development was well experimented as I went through many ideas and sketches to get to the final outcome of the website. I adapted to the change of the course becoming solely online and showed my development and ideas clearly over webcam tutorials when it would have been optimal to show my initial ideas in person. I meticulously planned the final outcome which can be seen by the animation proposal and the flat plan.
I have included a wide range of ethnicities within my final illustrations as this reflects my dissertation research about inclusivity for all within children's books. Especially with the topic, it is important that children feel as one with no prejudice towards each other as the fight against climate change and plastic pollution impacts us all.
The outcome of the project speaks volumes to the degree of effort I put into fully investigating my desired area of environmental education and consequently, my passion for children's illustration is embedded into the website.
What I would have done differently
My inexperience with Adobe XD and user experience design could have potentially limited the complexity of the prototype I wanted to create. Additionally, if I have factored in more time and funds, I would have collaborated with an actual web developer/agency to bring my prototype to screen for the public.
Although I assiduously planned the designing aspect for the final website, I did not factor in room for error in the final illustrations within the last few days and underestimated how long and complex the building of a website would take.
I would have liked to have tested the website on a focus group of young children to see how they reacted to the website and how I could have changed to ensure they are fully engaged and become motivated behind the project.
Finally, I would have liked to have used more sustainable materials and means of product to not contradict the message of the project. This could have been using recycled paper with less plastic film on the packaging and using biodegradable pens whilst I was sketching.
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