ICAW COMPOST Research & Education

Overview

This project was a poster design entry for International Compost Awareness Week, scheduled for May 3–9, 2026. The goal was to create a compelling visual narrative that encourages sustainable waste management and highlights the benefits of composting for our environment.

The Challenge

The primary challenge was to communicate the cycle of composting—from waste to growth—in a single, eye-catching image. I wanted to move away from purely technical diagrams and instead create something that felt organic and approachable, making the concept of "feeding the soil" feel like a positive, necessary action.

The Solution

I designed a concept centered around the slogan "Feed the soil that feeds you!". The poster uses a vertical "cross-section" layout that shows the relationship between the earth and the food we grow.

Key Design Features:

Illustrative Typography: The word "COMPOST" is the focal point, with each letter custom-illustrated using common compostable items like tomatoes, limes, oranges, bananas, and peas.

The Soil Ecosystem: Beneath the surface, the design showcases a rich, dark soil filled with worms, eggshells, and organic matter, emphasizing that decomposition is a lively and essential process.

The Growth Cycle: At the top of the poster, bright sunlight and fresh sprouts symbolize the "payoff" of healthy soil, creating a visual loop that connects back to the food scraps below.

Warm, Earthy Palette: I chose a mix of deep browns for the earth contrasted with high-saturation colors for the produce to make the poster pop while maintaining a natural feel.

The Impact

By personifying elements (like the smiling worms) and using recognizable food scraps, the poster serves as an educational tool that simplifies a complex environmental process. It effectively targets a broad audience, from school children to home gardeners, making the idea of composting feel accessible and rewarding.