Uni Project: Plastic Pollution
Year: 2023
Soft Skills: Creativity, problem-solving, Research
Technical Skills: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator
Storytelling for Change Project: Bringing Herby’s Journey to Life
For my Storytelling for Change project, I wanted to create a meaningful narrative that could engage audiences emotionally while raising awareness about plastic pollution and its impact on hermit crabs. I knew that to truly inspire change, the story needed to be coherent, relatable, and visually compelling, which challenged me to grow creatively and technically.
The story focuses on Herby, a hermit crab trapped in a plastic shell, feeling lonely and rejected by his peers. Through three scenes, the narrative shows Herby’s journey from isolation and misunderstanding to hope and transformation and finally reconciliation and renewed friendship. The characters’ dialogue reveals Herby’s inner struggle and highlights the broader message about plastic pollution affecting marine life.
What I enjoyed most about this project was how I could combine storytelling and design. Each scene was carefully crafted to balance emotional depth with clear visuals. The human character, the Jelly Giant, symbolizes kindness and positive action, showing how small efforts like picking up litter can make a real difference.
To bring the story to life, I used a mix of traditional storytelling techniques and digital illustration and typography. I spent a lot of time refining the narrative to make sure it was both easy to understand and impactful. Incorporating the story into my final design took careful attention to layout, typography, and color choices, which I achieved using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Along with the emotional story, I included facts about how plastic pollution harms hermit crabs and marine ecosystems. Adding these facts helped support the message and encouraged viewers to think about the real-world effects of plastic waste.
Overall, this project was very rewarding. It pushed me to develop my storytelling skills while improving my technical abilities with design software. More importantly, it confirmed my belief in the power of stories to create social and environmental change. Herby’s story is not just about a crab. It’s a reminder of how our choices affect the natural world.
