Eco Erie - Thesis Project

THESIS
WEB DESIGN
UX DESIGN 
About

My thesis project, Eco Erie, is a business that calls for environmental reform and brings awareness to the plastic pollution in Lake Erie and the Cleveland community I grew up in. Incentivizing the public with sustainable rewards, it calls upon people to clean up the Greater Cleveland Area of plastic waste and donate it to my company. I wanted to find an actual function for these plastics, using my project to spread awareness about the concept and building capability of eco bricks. Eco Erie would convert the donated plastic waste into eco bricks and build sustainable structures with them, benefiting the environment by giving plastic waste a purpose before it is able to break down into microplastics. This ten-month project entailed making the business, branding it, creating its website, and doing multiple exhibitions and presentations on its impact.

ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR, AFTER EFFECTS, WORDPRESS, INDESIGN, PHOTOSHOP, AFFINITY DESIGNER

1. BUSINESS MODEL

2. BRANDING

3. WEBSITE

4. MERCHANDISE

5. EXHIBITION

Each year, 22 million pounds of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes. Plastic waste in Lake Erie pollutes the drinking water of 11 million people. Lake Erie has more microplastics than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There is a huge issue of plastic pollution in Lake Erie, and it is the people’s job to help!

THE ISSUE

Eco Erie is a business that addresses the issue of plastic pollution in the Greater Cleveland Area. It relies on public donations of plastics collected from the environment. The goal is to have people collect plastic waste before it has a chance to break down into microplastics and pollute our ecosystem.

THE SOLUTION

With the collected plastic, Eco Erie makes eco bricks to give plastic waste an alternative end-of-life. Eco bricks are a sustainable building material made by putting plastic into plastic bottles. By adheving them together, them have the capabilies to build any type of structure, even houses!

THE BYPRODUCT

Since Eco Erie relies on the public to operate, they give incentives back to the public! Every gram of plastic waste donated gives points back to people. Points can be exchanged for rewards, such as zero-waste products or Eco Erie merchandise!

THE INCENTIVIZATION

Branding

Graphic with the phrase "Eco Practice" in large letters, featuring a leaf design and a stylized blue and green globe.

LOGO

Design board showcasing eco-themed branding elements including logos, color palette with deep cove, blue chill, celtic spring, and pure white colors; logo variations with color and black-and-white versions; header font called LakeWn; body font PT Sans Narrow; and design elements like fish illustrations and font samples.

STYLE GUIDE

Business cards for Franchesca Carlos, a user experience designer. The cards feature a pattern of small blue fish with green fins, and include contact information such as phone number, email, and address. The name and profession are displayed prominently.

BUSINESS CARDS

Printed on handmade recycled paper, 500 hand cut and distributed for Thesis Exhibition

Website

WEBSITE EXHIBITION VIDEO

Our exhibition gallery does not have access to the internet, meaning Web Design students have to make videos highlighting the features of our website instead.

Merchandise

The merch items were each specifically chosen to fit within Eco Erie’s business model. Many are alternatives to wasteful products. Since this business would be based in Cleveland, I also designed collaboration merch with the local sports teams to incorporate Cleveland culture.

A green container of eco Erie handmade candle with a brown lid, labeled as fig and lavender scent.
A sleep mask with a pattern of cartoon-style fish in blue and green on a white background, laid flat on a light grey surface.
A navy blue hoodie with light green accents and a front pocket, featuring a fish logo with the word 'CHUB' on the front.

Compostable Toothbrush

Cleveland Cavaliers Collab Jersey

A single footie sock with white and speckled black design, light green heel and toe, attached to a blue cardboard package labeled 'Footie Socks'.

Colorblock Sweatshirt

Cotton Footie Socks

Sheet of white textured paper or cloth with Geo EoE EROE embroidered logo featuring a blue fish with green fins and the text "EOE ER" around it.
White sports jersey with red sleeves, featuring a Cleveland-themed fish graphic and lettering.

Cleveland Guardians Collab T-Shirt

Embroidered Towel

Since my business model is driven off of incentivizing the public, I designed merchandise that people could exchange for rewards. Four of the created merch was printed, displayed at the exhibition, and available to purchase by anyone interested.

A white eco-friendly water bottle decorated with blue fish and the text 'ECO FISH' in dark blue.

Printed Merch

A white reusable water bottle decorated with small blue fish illustrations and the word 'ECO' in bold black letters. In front of it, there is a black sports cap. The background is a solid teal color.
A navy blue baseball cap with a small cartoon fish logo on the front, casting a shadow on a light surface with a gradient background.

Cleveland Browns Collab Sweatshirt - 2 sold

A navy blue and black baseball cap with a small, stylized fish logo and the word 'CHIC' on the front.

Cotton Sleep Mask

Handmade Candle

A sports jersey with a beige background, black neckline and armholes, featuring a logo of a missile with a sea creature wrapped around it, and the number 52 below.
A boxed set of two biodegradable toothbrushes with dark bristles, labeled 'Compostable Toothbrush,' displayed on a gray background.

Metal Water Bottle - 4 sold

Brown Cleveland Browns sweatshirt with speckled pattern and orange graphic of a fish wearing a football helmet.
A young man with dark skin, short curly hair, and earrings stands against a solid orange background. He is wearing a black sweatshirt with orange speckles and the Cleveland Browns logo.

Embroidered Hat - 4 sold

A tote bag with a pattern of cartoon blue fish with green fins on a white background, with blue handles.
Close-up of a person wearing a blue sweatshirt and gray pants, holding a colorful bag with a cartoonish design against a teal background.

Patterned Tote Bag - 12 sold

Everything is made to order to eliminate waste.

Exhibition

PFW Thesis Exhibition

Brochure promoting the creation and use of eco bricks, including instructions, examples, and information about eco brick projects.

TRIFOLD PAMPHLET - Printed Collateral

Handout pamphlet discussing the steps of how to make an eco brick.

Informational banner about plastic recycling and eco-friendly practices featuring a large number 4 with a background of plastic bottle caps, and text about collecting donations, making eco bricks, and rewarding public efforts. Contact details and social media at the bottom.

TABLETOP STAND BANNER - Business Model

Billboard with a white background featuring multiple cartoon fish and the text 'ECO FRIENDL' in dark blue.

HORIZONTAL HANGING BANNER

A white T-shirt with the words 'ECO ERIE' and a fish graphic, hanging on a tree branch by a lake with clear blue water and green foliage, promoting an exhibition in April 2026 at Purdue Fort Wayne.
T-shirt hanging from a tree branch near a body of water, with green leaves and rocky cliffs in the background.

PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL MOCKUP

PROMOTIONAL POSTER - Library Made

Young woman in a navy business suit standing next to a display booth for Eco Erie, showcasing recycled eco-friendly products with a banner, a computer monitor, and tables with promotional materials.

FINAL EXHIBITION STATION

We were limited to be smaller than 6 feet in width. I personally made two tables from electric wire wheels, eco bricks, and grout to display the building capabilities of eco bricks. These took an estimated 12 hours each.

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