Situation: North Texas Municipal Water District wanted to engage students in grades 6–8 to be more mindful about water conservation and feel empowered to make water-saving choices. The National Theatre for Children was hired to create a classroom program consisting of video puzzles and a classroom kit containing experiments and activities, to teach students about water use, the origins of their water supply, and why conservation matters.

Task: As the Art Director at The National Theatre for Children, I was tasked with creating a brand for the program and designing all print components included in the kit.

Design Approach:

• For the brand, I wanted to make sure it felt relevant to middle schoolers while also engendering trust from educators. It needed to be compatible with the branding for the elementary and high school versions of the program, while still maintaining its own distinct character.

• The logo has a bold typeface that conveys energy and urgency, evoking the spirit of a challenge, and features fun water-inspired symbols that tile together dynamically. The blues are all distinct but cohesive, and the bright orange accent adds contrast and versatility.

• The print materials for the kit consisted of a letter to the educator, an instructions booklet, sets of water audit cards for an activity, a key for water test strips, and a sticker for sealing the kit box. I ensured the purpose of each piece was immediately clear, while maintaining visual cohesion across the entire kit.

Conclusion: Educator surveys confirmed the program was a strong success. Bringing water conservation to life in the classroom aligned with existing science standards, and the bright, engaging designs gave the program an energy that kept students motivated and engaged.