The ocean needs more friends
Designing a poster for Surfrider Europe that communicates simple ways everyone can be a friend of the ocean
ROLE
graphic & communications designer
TIMELINE
2 weeks
PROJECT TYPE
sustainability communications, print design
CLIENT
Surfrider Foundation Europe
Project overview
In summer 2025, I volunteered with Surfrider Foundation Europe at the Ocean Race stop in Kiel, Germany. The event brought together organizations from across the region with a shared mission: protecting the ocean, reducing plastic waste, and raising awareness of marine ecosystems like the Baltic Sea.
As part of the event, I designed a poster to communicate simple, everyday ways people can be a “friend to the ocean.” The poster was displayed at the Surfrider tent alongside other informational materials and will continue to be reused at future events.
The challenge
How do you capture people’s attention in a busy event environment — without overwhelming them — and leave them with a clear, memorable message they can take away?
The solution
A 70x50cm poster printed on PVC with grommets on each side, so it can be reused without getting damaged and easily hung at various Surfrider events
The finished poster
DESIGN APPROACH
Designing for impact
This project was a return to my print design roots. I started my career in print before moving into digital product and UX design, so this was a chance to reconnect with designing something tangible, and to apply those skills to an issue I deeply care about.
With no fixed requirements for the poster, I made a series of design choices to balance visibility, reusability, and emotional impact:
Visual Aesthetic
To spark empathy and curiosity, I featured a humpback whale — a symbol of ocean life that captures attention and imagination. Each practical action was paired with a simple icon to draw attention to the information. I aligned the design with Surfrider’s brand, using colors from their palette.
Format & Scale
I chose a size large enough to be legible at a distance, but not so big that it dominated other materials in the Surfrider booth. I opted for a cost-effective format that could easily transported to events, rather than a stand-up banner.
Durability
Since Surfrider wanted something that could be reused at various events, I consulted with a local print vendor to source a PVC material that would last across multiple events and setups.
Photos from the Surfrider tent at the Ocean Race event
THE MESSAGE
How to be a better friend to the ocean
Marine protection not only means reducing local impacts such as overfishing, waste and noise, but also combating global climate change. Increased CO2 emissions cause warming and acidification of the oceans, which in turn leads to a decline in biodiversity, coral bleaching and changes in ocean currents.
Marine protection starts small, and starts with you. You can take small actions everyday to minimize the impact of climate change on the ocean:
💧 Say yes to reusable bottles, no to plastic
👕 Choose secondhand over new
🥦 Eat seasonally and regionally
🌍 Travel with intention
🌊 Protect what you love
Make an impact with your actions and be a good friend to the ocean.
THE OUTCOME
A brand-aligned, reusable communication piece
The poster is now part of Surfrider’s event kit and will be reused at other activities and events raising awareness about ocean conservation.
For me, it was a meaningful project that brought my design practice full circle: combining visual storytelling, tangible print work, and sustainability advocacy into one piece.
REFLECTIONS
Design as a powerful tool for the planet
Design can do more than solve usability problems or streamline workflows. It can build empathy, spark conversations, and help shape cultural and social change. Good design can tell a story and engage people in the narrative so they feel connected to nature and motivated to take action. Creating this poster was a reminder of how design, at any scale, contributes to the systems shaping how we live with and care for our environment.
