Tanisha Maria Naik

Storytelling the loss of bio-diversity in Goa through editorial design to inform climate action in individuals approaching and recently entered established adulthood

How can storytelling through editorial design and the practice of critical communication design be a contributing factor in helping 23 to 33 year-olds understand the loss of bio-diversity in a simpler and more engaging way?

Project Abstract

In a world where there is a perpetual information overload, this project
is an enquiry into bringing the attention onto and raising awareness of the loss of bio-diversity as a major environmental issue amongst individuals approaching and in the early stages of established adulthood through the tool of storytelling using the medium of editorial design through newspapers.

The aim of this project is to be a storyteller through the lens of critical communication design as a tool and practice to tackle real-world issues and the medium of editorial design for the loss of bio-diversity. The aim of employing storytelling through this medium and practice is to help deepen understanding, incite emotion and invigorate climate action in individuals, even if that is in the smallest way.

The environment is an entity that doesn’t have a voice of its own but does so much for humans. The loss of bio-diversity is one of the three environmental issues degrading the environment and eco-systems present on Earth. It is important to take climate action to help preserve the environment and whilst tackling environmental issues as a whole is not feasible, this project looks at tackling the loss of bio-diversity specifically. The aim is to take a stance on climate action through critical communication design in the efforts to reach and inform individuals in the given age group, 23-33 year-olds, to want to take a stance as well.

Q&A

       
              Q: In 5 words or less, what is communication design research really like?
A: Strategic, rabbit hole, vast, intiguing, open minded

            Q: Band name or song title that best captures your feeling about communication design.
A: Bohemian Rhapsody + Under Pressure by Queen because of the harmony, complexity and constraints in communication design.

            Q: How many hours a day do you spend thinking about or practising design?
A: 6

            Q: Tea or coffee? Estimate number of litres you consumed in 2024 so far.
A: Coffee but have probably consumed more tea in 2024. So, calculating how many litres of tea I have drank so far this year it would be around 65!!

            Q: Weirdest typeface you have ever used?
A: Trajan Colour

            Q: If communication design were a dish or meal, what would it be and why?
A: Fish curry & rice with pickle because there are so many different flavours
that pop up and the dish can be done differently depending on the culture just like communication design that has a vast number of practitioners, each coming from their own background and culture making their practice of communication design unique!

Fig. 1 – The ‘Echoes of the Wild’ newspaper shown in the image is edition one and showcases three stories of the interconnected fate of the biodiversity found in Goa, India through the eyes of the species.

Fig. 2 – The newspaper is written from the perspective of the species portraying them as the authors. We have Gabriella the govo reddo, Gary the ghar, Maira the river otter, Priya the fiddler crab, Anya the windowpane oyster and Nisha the Malabar Tree Nymph.

Fig. 3 – All the species highlighted in this edition of the newspaper are of state importance to Goa, India yet critically in harm thus aiming to be culturally and emotionally resonant with the audience.