FRAGILE SEAS

The Brief  To explore visual metaphors and their use in illustration.

The Outcome   Visual metaphors are often used in editorial illustration to communicate complex ideas quickly and clearly. By combining familiar objects in unexpected ways, illustrators can show ideas that may be difficult to explain with words. This is especially useful for environmental issues, as imagery can help show the impact of human actions on the natural world.

I created this illustration as an editorial response to the issue of ocean pollution, focusing on the growing integration of plastic waste into marine ecosystems. By positioning the discarded plastic among the sea creatures, I wanted to suggest that pollution has become inseparable from the natural environment. The direction and flow of the fish are echoed in the arrangement of bottles and the translucent plastic bags visually resemble jellyfish through their soft forms and drifting motion.