"PROJECT ASTRA"
The intention of the anti-littering campaign was to create an emotionally engaging public awareness initiative that encouraged individuals and communities to feel a stronger sense of pride, responsibility, and connection toward shared spaces. Rather than treating waste disposal as a purely functional task, the project challenged designers to develop visually engaging and interactive trash cans that transformed disposing of litter into a meaningful and reflective design experience.
Through playful interaction, immersive design, and community-focused engagement, the campaign aimed to encourage long-term behavioural change by reminding audiences that small individual actions contribute toward cleaner environments and healthier communities. The project explored how environmental design, public interaction, and visual storytelling could work together to make waste management feel more impactful, memorable, and emotionally connected to the protection of both local spaces and the planet.
Design Decisions
The design decisions throughout Project Astra focused heavily on immersion, accessibility, and creating a strong sense of wonder. The observatory-inspired trash bins were designed to feel less like ordinary waste containers and more like interactive environmental experiences that visually invited participation. Glow-in-the-dark constellations, cosmic textures, sound effects, and illuminated details were incorporated to create a more engaging atmosphere that could attract attention in both daytime and nighttime environments.
Gamification became a central component of the campaign’s identity through the introduction of NFC-enabled “Star Cards,” allowing children to track environmental actions, earn stars, unlock constellations, and progress through a personalized explorer profile. This system was intentionally designed to encourage repeat interaction while reinforcing positive environmental behaviours through achievement and exploration rather than obligation.
The visual identity emphasized themes of discovery, movement, imagination, and optimism through vibrant colours, celestial imagery, and layered environmental storytelling. Typography and branding decisions were curated to feel approachable and adventurous while still maintaining clarity and accessibility for younger audiences and public environments.
Initital Concepts
The development of Project Astra began with exploring how environmental campaigns aimed at younger audiences could move beyond traditional warning-based messaging and instead create a sense of excitement, curiosity, and emotional connection.
Research and ideation focused on how gamification, interaction, and imaginative worldbuilding could encourage long-term environmental engagement rather than short-term behavioural responses. Rather than framing littering through guilt or punishment, the project explored how design could transform proper waste disposal into a rewarding and memorable experience for children and families.
Early concepts centered around the idea of interactive observatories and space exploration, leading to the creation of a cosmic-themed environmental initiative where users become “Guardians” protecting and restoring constellations through positive environmental actions. Inspiration was drawn from progression-based interactive systems and collectible experiences that encourage repeated engagement and emotional investment over time.
Final Design
The final Project Astra campaign evolved into an interactive environmental awareness initiative that transformed waste disposal into an immersive and community-focused experience. By combining environmental design, gamification, public interaction, and imaginative storytelling, the project explored how design can encourage younger audiences to develop stronger emotional connections with environmental stewardship.
Through its observatory-inspired installations, constellation progression systems, and interactive reward structures, Project Astra demonstrates how thoughtful campaign and environmental design can reshape public engagement by turning everyday actions into moments of exploration, achievement, and collective responsibility.
REAL
IDEAS MADE
kaitlyncutting12344@gmail.com
Location
Ontario, Canada