I was recently presented with a unique opportunity: the chance to create a passion project from start to finish. I knew I wanted to merge my love for national parks, environmental preservation, and multimedia design into one cohesive campaign. That’s when Preserve the Peaks was born, an educational campaign about Rocky Mountain National Park that encourages visitors to enjoy the park responsibly while also raising awareness about the environmental challenges it faces.
This case study documents the entire process, from proposal and planning to the design of infographics, interactive media, and a comprehensive digital guide.
Project Proposal
Every project needs a strong foundation. My first step was to write a project proposal that introduced the campaign idea, outlined my goals, and explained how my deliverables would educate and inspire visitors. This document helped me organize my vision and identify the themes that would run through every part of the campaign: preservation, responsibility, and accessibility.
Project Proposal Full Document
Project Plan
Once the proposal was approved, I moved into the planning phase. The project plan outlined each step of the campaign, breaking it into manageable phases. It helped me see the bigger picture while also keeping track of weekly milestones. I made sure to budget time for research, creation, revisions, and final reviews.
Project Management System
To keep myself organized, I used Trello as my project management system. I created weekly cards with checklists of actionable tasks, from conducting research to wireframing designs. Trello gave me a clear visual of what needed to be done and allowed me to celebrate small wins as I checked tasks off.
Alongside Trello, I kept a weekly production journal where I tracked:
- Completed tasks
- In-progress tasks
- The medium or tool used
- Time spent on each task
This journal not only kept me accountable but also gave me a way to reflect on my workflow.
Deliverables Overview
The campaign was divided into three major deliverables:
- Infographics
- Genially Interactive Projects
- Digital PDF Guide
Each piece of multimedia content was designed to educate visitors about RMNP’s natural beauty, its environmental challenges, and how they can help preserve the park.
Infographics
The first deliverables I created were two infographics:
- The Climate Toll on Rocky Mountain National Park – Highlighting the effects of climate change on glaciers, wildlife, and snowpack.
- Protecting the Peaks: How Visitors Can Help Preserve Rocky Mountain National Park – Educating visitors on practical steps they can take to reduce their footprint.
For each infographic, I started with research and wireframes and then moved into full design.
Wireframes | Final Infographics
Genially Interactive Projects
Next, I turned to Genially to create interactive content. This platform allowed me to push beyond static visuals and create experiences users could explore.
- Interactive Map – A clickable map of RMNP highlighting the park’s main areas, from Bear Lake to Trail Ridge Road. Each location included pop-ups with descriptions to help visitors plan their trip or simply learn more.
- Choose Your Path: A Rocky Mountain Adventure Challenge – A gamified experience where users selected an avatar and navigated scenarios to see if they made responsible choices. This project made learning fun and reinforced key lessons about preservation.
Wireframes | Final Interactive Map | Final Choose Your Path Game
Digital PDF Guide
The capstone of the campaign was the Digital PDF Guide, a comprehensive document covering:
- The history of RMNP
- Main landmarks and areas
- Climate change and environmental challenges
- How to be a responsible visitor
- Preservation in action
This guide serves as a go-to resource for any visitor, combining storytelling, statistics, and best practices into one cohesive document.
Conclusion
Creating Preserve the Peaks has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on. Not only did it allow me to merge my passions for design and preservation, but it also taught me valuable lessons about time management, the power of project planning, and the importance of flexibility.
I learned that content creation is a process: it takes time, patience, and a willingness to adapt your ideas. The project I envisioned at the start grew and evolved through embracing creativity and change along the way.
For any questions about this project, please contact me at cpschaaf@quinnipiac.edu.
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