Reaghan Toth

I created Save the Orangutans Project in my Graphic Design II class. In this project, I explored designing for a cause, communicating an idea through icon and logo design, using a limited color palette, and 2D and 4D poster design.

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For this project, I was assigned the task of making an icon to represent orangutans and a corresponding print and animated poster that spoke to saving their species from extinction due to forest fires. My process began with developing many sketches of orangutans and related imagery based off of found reference photos. From my sketches, I pursued the idea of having a silhouette of an orangutan and a tree to point to what specifically needs to be addressed in order to save the orangutans. I illustrated both the orangutan and tree within a circle to match the curves present in orangutans and tree branches. From there, I refined the body and facial features to clearly show an orangutan. When designing the print and animated poster, I used only orange, brown, and white to speak to the colors of orangutans and fires in order to keep my message on point. My poster has a call to action and the animated version of my poster displays the narrative that making the right choice, not lighting a match, makes orangutans -  which are represented by my icon – happy and safe from extinction.