This project began in my Fall 2022 semester with a single poster design of an African forest elephant. At the time, it stood alone, but I knew I wanted to expand it into a larger campaign one day. The original assignment was to use type as image to create an impactful message, and the first cause that came to mind was animal poaching — an issue I feel deeply passionate about because of the inhumane killing and endangerment of wildlife.
I started by researching African forest elephants to understand why they are endangered and the role poaching plays. I learned that hunters often kill these animals solely for the ivory in their tusks, discarding the rest of the body. This wasteful and cruel practice is the number one reason these elephants face extinction. I wanted my design to make viewers stop and think — to understand the seriousness of the issue without relying on graphic, gory imagery.
For the elephant’s body (and later, the rhino’s), I used words and phrases that reflect the animal’s traits and personality, contrasted by harsh, urgent words in the areas targeted by poachers — the tusks and horns. In October 2024, during my final semester, I revisited the original piece and created the rhino poster to accompany the elephant, following the same process. Both were printed and displayed in my BFA show when I graduated, completing the campaign I envisioned two years earlier.
Sketches
