Next Gen Climate Summit
At-a-Glance
Collaborating with Santa Monica City’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) for the Next-Gen Climate Summit, our project focuses on engaging teens and college students with impactful messaging. We hope to inspire and empower attendees with vivid stickers that read "Next Gen Climate Summit," and "Future Climate Leader." These stickers are physical reminders of their involvement in creating a sustainable future. As part of our event-specific merchandise, we're looking beyond gifts to build a sense of ownership and dedication among attendees.
Problem
The challenge that we encountered was bridging the gap between the formality of a professional event and the desire to engage young people. While keeping the event's integrity was critical, we also realized the importance of providing a practical takeaway for teens and college students.
👉 City events can often feel overly formal and lack the vibrancy and energy needed for youth-oriented gatherings.
Solution
To satisfy the needs of our audience while maintaining the professional image of the event, we landed on a free giveaway. We decided to design and create stickers that would feature empowering messages that are appealing to our target demographic. This approach allowed us to not only provide a pleasing aesthetic but also convey important, uplifting sentiments to the participants, thus enhancing their experience during the event.
🚀 Stickers are not only decorative but also serve as portable reminders of the summit's objectives and the city's sustainability commitment.
Process
Following a clear alignment with OSE's expectations and goals, I crafted a variety of concepts. Subsequently, they indicated their preferred designs for further development.
Concept Development
Before delving into the minute details and intricacies of each design, I thought it was imperative to have a strong, viable concept. Consequently, I designed six distinct concepts. These were tailored specifically for the Office of Sustainability and Environment to review and select the one they found most appealing and in line with their vision.
Feedback and Mockups
Upon choosing the designs, I proceeded to enhance them with details, texture, and color. I wanted these stickers to be vibrant and trendy for the youthful audience. Once approved, I developed mockups for each design and prepared the files for print.
Final Product
Product Successes 🎉
Once everything was finalized and approved, the designs were sent for printing. The idea of creating shirts for the event was proposed, so one of my designs, along with the city logo, was also made into a shirt.
One quote from OSE employee:
“My kids are your biggest fans of your stickers!”
What I Learned 🌿
One valuable lesson I learned in designing stickers for Santa Monica's next-gen climate summit is the power of visual communication in promoting environmental awareness. By carefully selecting imagery and messages that resonate with the audience’s values and aspirations, I can effectively convey the urgency of climate action and inspire collective engagement. The stickers serve as more than just decorative elements; they act as portable reminders of the summit's goals and the city's commitment to sustainability.
