McGill University Sustainability Module
McGill University’s Office of Sustainability is working towards launching an Online Course to increase awareness about sustainability as a concept and to encourage engagement with sustainability topics, initiatives, and opportunities on campus and beyond.
Using Adobe Illustrator, I created graphics such as diagrams and icons to complement the module’s content and make learning visually appealing.
Sustainable Food Systems Diagram
Creative Brief: Create a clickable diagram that illustrates a sustainable food system, from growing food to disposal. Highlight that this process is dynamic, not linear, that there are people involved at every step, and that waste is produced at multiple stages. Keep in mind that the end user should be able to click each stage to learn more about the different elements involved in producing food.
I chose to fulfill the brief by telling a story – one of the life cycle of a tomato, from starting at a farm to ending up on our tables, and everything in between.
Showcased below is my iterative design process, from initial sketches to final diagram, based on extensive feedback from the MOOS team.
The Three Dimensions of Sustainability Icons
Creative Brief:
I. Create a nesting diagram with 3 components, representing the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability respectively. The 3 components should also serve as independent icons.
II. Also create 3 diagrams to illustrate the different ways these dimensions interact – one with nesting circles, one highlighting them as pillars of sustainability, and one Venn diagram.
These icons will be used throughout the module to illustrate the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, and environmental), and to relate material to them.
Sustainable Food Systems &
The Three Dimensions of Sustainability Diagram
Creative Brief: Create a figure that communicates with learners where the several components of sustainable food systems are situated within the three dimensions of sustainability, and how they interact with one another.
The team agreed that a Radial Tree Diagram would be best suited to convey this. I was then able to bring their vision to life using Adobe Illustrator.
Pause, Question, Reflect Icons
Creative brief: Create icons to be used throughout the module to prompt learners to take a step back, reflect on the material, and ponder over guided questions. They should represent the words, “Pause”, “Question”, and “Reflect”, respectively.
