PROJECT SUMMARY:
Paddle 4 Tomorrow is a Georgia Based non-profit that connects youth of diverse backgrounds to each other and the outdoors.
With part of their mission being to reduce waste and model sustainable practices at their events, Paddle 4 Tomorrow brings a mobile recycling unit to each of their events. The board called upon me to create something illustrative and unique to replace the generic signs for recycling, compost and trash that had previously adorned these recycling stations. I was given no guidelines other than to come up with something creative that would appeal to the diverse young audience that their organization aims to help.
I got to work sketching my own versions of the the most commonly used symbols to indicate, trash, recycling, and composting. Beginning with the recycling sign, I immediately began to ponder the hydrologic cycle, and thriving fish populations being indicative of a healthy ecosystem. With Paddle 4 Tomorrow being a Georgia based organization, I thought it would be a nice touch to incorporate the largemouth bass, the state fish of Georgia. This set the tone for the other two drawings, which would incorporate the Southern Live Oak, which is the Georgia State Tree, as well as the state bird, the Brown Thrasher.
The initial sketches were well received, and upon hearing feedback from the board, I came up with the final product, which has been a favorite with conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts both young and old, and continues to be used at all Paddle 4 Tomorrow events.
