The Reef Thief

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

The social enterprise ‘Reef Thief’ has established in response to the dire future Australia’s most precious gem, the Great Barrier Reef is facing. The online education program aims to prevent further destruction to the Reef by educating the future leaders of our country. Consisting of a multiple choice quiz aimed at primary school students, the game encourages students to learn about the Reef and how we can save it in order to challenge their class mates on who can create the most beautiful reef.

The website is set up as an underwater scene from the Great Barrier Reef. As the multiple choice questions pop up, students choose their answer and depending on the result, a piece of coral in the scene grows back (if answered correctly) or dies due to bleaching (if answered incorrectly). The aim of the program is to teach children about the Reef and to highlight that if we are not aware of the changes the Reef is facing, we will not be able to save it.

Quiz questions are sorted into different intellectual levels, allowing a diverse groups of students to participate. The questions are related to the Reef itself, its current environment, reasons for its deterioration, and ways to be more sustainable to help save it.

The combined used of informational components, animation and graphics creates an attractive proposition that draws the attention of the target market being young students. The website graphics were inspired by the natural rainbow spread of colours seen in the Reef to then show the significant decline in colour as the Reef dies due to the coal industry, water pollution, and coral bleaching. This creates an effective and memorable experience for the users that encourages them to go home and educate other family members on the cause.

Skills Used: Illustrator, InDesign

Online Educational Program for the future leaders of Australia

THE PROBLEM

THEN

NOW

"Do we really care so little about the earth upon which we live that we don't wish to protect one of its greatest wonders from the consequences of our behaviours?"

- Sir David Attenborough (2016)

The coal industry, poor water quality, and coral bleaching are having catastrophic effects on the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout the last thirty years, the Reef has experienced the worst bleaching in all of history with 50% of coral now dead. As the Australian government continues to support the expansion of coal mines and ports, carbon dioxide and water pollution have accelerated to destroy a large amount of the reef at a rapid rate. As a result, bright coloured coral is quickly turning white. Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and play an essential role in our environment for water filtration, fish reproduction, shore line protection and erosion prevention.

With the reef at such a dire state in the current environment, it is critical that actions are taken immediately to prevent further destruction to the reef in the hope to save Australia’s precious treasure.