Reflection

Through this design, I wanted to convey a message of urgency to viewers about the threats of rising carbon dioxide levels in our oceans, particularly in regards to shellfish, pteropods, coral, and crustaceans. While researching for this project, I learned about how the climate crisis has lent its hand to ocean acidification and escalating sea temperatures. Not only do many sea animals find themselves moving to colder environments out of necessity, but their growth is greatly hindered as well: the shells of animals like lobsters and clams do not have the carbonate ions they need to develop. In this fictional concert poster for sea creatures that have survived up until the year 2030 (the predicted year in which the effects of climate change will be irreversible), I explored the idea of the lengths that these animals will be forced to undergo, migrating to the coldest ocean on Earth in order to escape the warmth and destruction that climate change has brought. After years of human complacency, the animals have organized this “Underwater Armageddon Concert” as a grim, but final hurrah for the end of their world. The juxtaposition of cold and warm tones highlight the pure beginnings of an ocean unharmed by human contact, contrasted with humanity’s dark failure to provide stability for our oceans. I hope that viewers of the design will realize that this potential doomsday is inevitable, unless we all make steps to limit our carbon footprint and pressure major corporations to follow suit.