Forests Returning Project
INTRODUCTION
Forests Returning was a homepage design concept created to demonstrate a proposed visual direction for the project. With the wider project being taken forward by another team, I developed the concept from scratch to show how the brand could translate into a cohesive digital experience.
The design brought together considered typography, colour, imagery and content structure to create a clear, engaging introduction to the project. The aim was to provide a tangible visual reference for the team, illustrating how the website could communicate the brand’s identity and guide visitors through its content.
Challenge
The brief called for a website that could bring together environmental storytelling, ecological restoration and an international photography competition. The challenge was to translate this broad vision into a clear, engaging homepage that communicated the project's purpose while retaining its cinematic, nature-focused identity.
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
TIME-FRAME
3 days
ROLE
Concept Developement
tools
Figma, Wix (Web design)
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My aim was to create a visual direction that balanced immersive imagery with clear content hierarchy, helping visitors understand the initiative, explore its stories and find relevant ways to engage.
DESIGN PROCESS
The BRief
The client provided the project's core idea, purpose, name and logo, leaving the wider visual direction and website layout open for development. With limited guidance beyond these initial elements, I took the initiative to explore suitable visual references and develop a cohesive homepage concept.
This involved establishing a colour palette, selecting imagery, defining the typography and organising the content to communicate the project's purpose clearly.
VISUAL DIRECTION
I explored existing websites, visual references and my own design ideas to establish a direction that felt natural, calm and environmentally conscious. I wanted the homepage to reflect the project's connection to nature through considered imagery, a restrained colour palette and clear typography.
These elements came together to create a cohesive visual concept that communicated the project's identity while providing a foundation for the wider website design.
Design Development
I explored environmental organisations, conservation websites and photography-led designs to inform a visual direction that felt connected to nature while remaining clear and contemporary.
I chose earthy greens and neutral tones to create a calm, cohesive palette that complemented the photography and reinforced the project's environmental focus.
Editorial typography and prominent headings added visual character while establishing a clear hierarchy between key messages and supporting content.
This direction informed the structure of the homepage, where a prominent hero section introduced the project before leading visitors through distinct content areas.
I used cards and grid layouts to organise information about ecosystems and restoration stories, making the different themes easier to distinguish while maintaining a consistent visual language.
Carefully placed calls to action provided clear next steps for visitors interested in learning more or contributing to the project.
Together, these decisions shaped a cohesive homepage concept that balanced visual storytelling with clear communication.
Final Concept & handover
I created the homepage as a visual reference for the team taking the project forward, demonstrating how the proposed brand direction could be applied consistently across a website.
The concept brought the different design elements together into a clear, cohesive example of the intended experience. My involvement ended at handover, so I wasn't responsible for the subsequent development or final implementation.
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