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Ice Safety

A graphic design and data visualization project aimed at spreading safety awareness for ice anglers in the Great Lakes region.

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Madison, WI

Overview

This project focused on raising awareness about ice angler safety in the Great Lakes region, where decreasing ice thickness and rising injury rates have become a growing concern. Our goal was to create informational graphics that were visually compelling, easy to understand, and shareable across both digital and physical platforms.

The Problem

As climate patterns shift, ice coverage on the Great Lakes has significantly decreased—putting local ice anglers at risk. However, accessible and engaging safety information was lacking in these communities. We aimed to fill this gap with data-driven design solutions.

Project Type: UX Design, Data Visualization, Graphic Design
Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Google Sheets
My Role: Graphic designer, visual strategy contributor, presenter

Audience

Our target users were recreational ice anglers in the Great Lakes area. These individuals often rely on local community boards, flyers, and social media for updates—making it essential to tailor content to both print and digital formats.

Design Strategy

Visual Metaphor

  • A gradient background simulated a frozen lake from top (ice) to bottom (deep water), signaling increasing danger with depth.

  • Ice fishing iconography made the content relatable and recognizable.

Visual Hierarchy

  • Proximity and grouping helped organize information clearly.

  • Flow was intentional—from the hook, through key facts, to a call to action—guiding the viewer naturally.

Color Palette

  • We used harmonious shades of blue, from pale to deep, to create contrast and visual hierarchy.

  • Light shades provided calm backgrounds, while darker tones drew attention to urgent facts.

Data Visualization

  • A grouped column graph highlighted the sharp drop in average ice coverage recently.

  • A line chart provided context, emphasizing long-term decline.

  • We avoided "chartjunk" to keep visuals clean and focused on safety implications.

THE DESIGN

Group3 Ice Safety.jpeg

Future Directions
& Takeaways

Given more time, we would:

  • Incorporate a dashboard or QR code linking to real-time safety updates.

  • Use professional data visualization tools for even cleaner charts.

  • Expand the graphic system with more educational artwork.

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This project strengthened my skills in:

  • Designing with purpose and empathy for a specific audience.

  • Crafting visuals that balance clarity with visual appeal.

  • Collaborating across a team to communicate important public health data.

Have a project idea?
Let's chat.

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