St. John’s
River
ruckus
event branding
the CHALLENGE
Turning environmental advocacy into an eye-catching carnival experience. That was the core challenge of branding the River Ruckus. For several years, St. Johns Riverkeeper approached me to create campaign materials for their annual fundraiser, an event designed to both raise awareness about the health of the St. Johns River and generate support for their mission. The River Ruckus takes place alongside the Riverside Arts Market, blending a festive, community-oriented atmosphere with a serious environmental purpose, and the challenge was translating that balance into visuals that were playful yet purposeful.
the Result
At the heart of the River Ruckus branding was a large body of custom hand-drawn illustration, which brought the playful, community-oriented spirit of the event to life. Each element—from river motifs to carnival-inspired details—was carefully illustrated to balance whimsy with purpose, reflecting both the fun of the celebration and the seriousness of St. Johns Riverkeeper’s mission.
These illustrations, combined with vibrant colors and dynamic typography, created a visually rich and engaging campaign that resonated with attendees, sponsors, and supporters alike. Over multiple years of collaboration, the hand-crafted approach helped establish a distinctive and memorable identity for the River Ruckus, driving both attendance and awareness for the cause.
St. Johns Riverkeeper, apart from being a vital safeguard for the environment of the Jacksonville area, were always a terrific partner, and were always pleased with the final outcomes of our projects. This is no exception.
