How do you turn something you love into something you create? That was the question I had to answer recently when I started my Content Creation course at Quinnipiac University. For our class, we were given a big task: pick any subject, any medium, and use it as the foundation for a 7-week content project.
No constraints. No templates. Just a blank page and total creative freedom.
At first, that sounded exciting. But it also felt a little overwhelming. Where do you even start?
Brainstorming a Passion Project
When you’re told you can create anything, it can be hard to narrow it down, especially when you’re someone with a lot of interests. My best advice for brainstorming a passion project? Write everything down. Seriously. Don’t filter. Don’t overthink. Just make a big list of topics you’re passionate about, hobbies you love, causes that matter to you, and stories you want to tell.
For me, that list included National Parks and Preservation, two things I deeply care about. I’ve had the chance to visit Rocky Mountain National Park over the past few years, and I knew I wanted to tell a story about it. The breathtaking views, the wildlife, and the feeling of traveling on Trail Ridge Road is something I will never forget. I wanted to bring my travel experience and my passion for preservation to the classroom.
Researching Your Topic
When I settled on Rocky Mountain National Park as my subject, the next step was research. This step is all about building a strong foundation for a multimedia campaign.
I gathered information from trusted, multimedia sources such as:
- The National Park Service’s official site
- Documentaries like The Living Dream: 100 Years of Rocky Mountain National Park
- Visitor blogs and trip reports
- Podcasts from The Rocky Mountain Channel
- Peer-reviewed climate research from the U.S. Forest Service
- Interactive trail guides and conservation articles
I wanted to understand the park from all angles: its history, climate challenges, visitor impact, and preservation efforts. These resources became the backbone of my proposed project.
Introducing: Preserve the Peaks
So, what is Preserve the Peaks? It’s a multimedia campaign designed to educate and inspire visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park to explore more thoughtfully and respectfully.
- A series of infographics inspired by vintage national park posters
- A set of interactive digital posters where users can click or scroll to reveal conservation facts and tips
- A downloadable digital guide with practical advice, beautiful visuals, and essential park information
These designs will be guided by one simple goal: to help visitors protect what makes the park so special: its peaks, wildlife, trails, and stories.
You can check out my full project proposal here.
Setting Campaign Goals and Schedule
When planning this campaign, I outlined a few specific goals:
- Educate travelers on how to safely and respectfully enjoy the park
- Raise awareness about climate change’s impact on the park’s fragile ecosystems
- Promote Leave No Trace practices among newer or infrequent visitors
The campaign is designed for park visitors, especially first-time parkgoers, families planning trips, and younger travelers who are exploring national parks for the first time.
Over the next seven weeks, I’ll be researching, designing, and refining content for this campaign. Weeks 1 and 2 are all about research. Weeks 3 and 4 are dedicated to creating infographics and interactive posters. Weeks 5 and 6 will focus on building out the downloadable guide. Week 7 will bring it all together.
Final Thoughts and Advice
If you ever find yourself faced with a wide-open creative project, here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Start by listing what you care about
- Find the intersection between what excites you and what others might benefit from
- Stay grounded in good research
- And most importantly, create something you’d want to use yourself
I’m excited to dive into Preserve the Peaks and share updates as the project unfolds. Whether you’re a fellow content creator, a park lover, or just someone who’s curious, thanks for following along.
Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’re planning a trip to the Rockies, check out the official National Park Service site to start your adventure.
Let’s protect the peaks, together.
Christian Schaaf's Blog + Portfolio 