Project details
%402x.svg){kind=icon}
Senior Design Project: Riverbend Wildlife Sanctuary Branding
For my senior project, I developed a comprehensive brand guide for a fictional organization called Riverbend Wildlife Sanctuary. The goal was to create a cohesive and engaging identity that could support educational outreach and visitor engagement at a wildlife sanctuary. My work included the design and production of a full brand guide that established the sanctuary’s visual identity, including logos, typography, and color schemes. I applied this branding across a wide variety of formats, both large and small scale, including embroidered apparel, foil-stamped materials, a felt pennant, and promotional items like stickers and postcards. To enhance visitor interaction and learning, I created several educational materials and activities. This included a passport-style activity booklet to guide exploration, postcards, custom maps, and a variety of interactive signs. Two featured displays were: * “The Secret to Otter Survival” — an educational sign that allowed users to feel real otter fur and learn about its unique insulating properties. * “Whose Track Is That?” — a flip-up display that invited visitors to guess which animal made each footprint, then check their answer underneath. All elements were designed to be both informative and visually consistent with the sanctuary's branding, encouraging an immersive and memorable experience for visitors of all ages.
From Scribbles to Sanctuary: The Making of Riverbend
Bringing Riverbend Wildlife Sanctuary to life started long before the logo ever existed. My process began with deep research. I was looking into existing wildlife conservation organizations, nature center branding, signage systems, and educational tools. I compiled visual references, wrote notes, and gathered insights to inform not only the design, but also the tone and goals of the brand. Every decision needed to feel grounded in real-world context, even for a fictional place. From there, I filled sketchbooks with thumbnails and ideas. I wrote short papers outlining concepts, tone, and target audiences. Dozens of rough logo explorations helped me refine the visual voice of the sanctuary. Once the brand direction felt solid, I created a full brand guide. I was laying out colors, typefaces, logo rules, and supporting elements. Then I print, cut, and hand-bound the guide for presentation. With the brand in place, I shifted into application. I designed everything from apparel and pennants to postcards and maps, using a mix of digital and hands-on production methods. Each item went through rounds of iteration and critique—testing how the branding held up across different materials and formats. One of the biggest hands-on pieces was the display board work. I started with digital mockups and went through multiple rounds of feedback, adjusting content, visuals, and interactivity. After final approval, I fabricated the boards using wood backing, printed graphics, and hand-applied finishing touches like stickers and tactile elements.