Monarch Butterfly Initiative

Designing an accessible, visually engaging educational panel for a public space.

Context & Goals

The town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue commissioned an educational information panel for a public bike path. The goal was to create a visually engaging and accessible design that clearly communicated information about monarch butterflies.

The Challenge

This project involved several overlapping constraints:

  • Fitting a large volume of content into a limited space
  • Presenting information in both French and English, in compliance with Quebec language laws
  • Designing for a public audience moving through the space, not standing still

The challenge was to make the panel feel clear, inviting, and easy to navigate in both languages without overwhelming viewers.

My approach

I built the visual system around the monarch butterfly, whose illustration was created by me, to ensure originality and cohesion. Bold, warm tones highlighted key information, while hierarchy, spacing, and flow guided readers through both French and English content.

Photography was incorporated to balance text-heavy sections and add context. Bilingual text was treated with parity and clarity, ensuring neither language dominated. Every design decision aimed to make the panel educational, readable, and visually approachable within the physical and regulatory constraints.

Impact & Reflection

My design was selected for permanent installation along the bike path. The project highlighted how thoughtful design can communicate complex information clearly while respecting linguistic and regulatory constraints. The final panel is bold, informative, and accessible, inviting people to pause, learn, and enjoy their surroundings.