How illustration students designed sustainable, Ocean-inspired apparel

It was February 2025. Our Youth Engagement Lead, Gemma, was standing in front of a group of MA Illustration students at the University of Edinburgh – and she had a challenge for them. 

…Wait? Is that De ja vu? You’re not imagining it: it’s our second year of teaming up with 11 illustration students in Edinburgh, inviting them to turn everything they learnt in a Wavemaker Workshop into new designs for our charity’s sustainable apparel store. 

A live design brief with Ocean conservation at its heart 

After the success of the previous Wavemaker illustration live brief, when the University of Edinburgh asked if we would run this project a second time, we didn’t hesitate: our answer was an easy yes! 

Here’s a quick summary of the process: 

STEP 1: Students participated in our Wavemaker Workshop and learnt more about the Ocean. We set the brief – asking students to answer one of these questions with their designs: Why is the Ocean important? Why do you love the Ocean?

STEP 2: Gemma led an ideation session to get creativity flowing.

STEP 3: Students pitched initial ideas to Gemma.

STEP 4: Students submitted their first design drafts for feedback from the Ocean Generation team. This allowed for client feedback, concept iteration, and facilitated project management skill-building. 

STEP 5: Students submitted final designs to be used on sustainable clothing inspired by the Ocean.

STEP 6: The most difficult job yet – choosing the winners! 

From idea to illustration: How students brought Ocean designs to life  

What did students learn about the Ocean, before putting pen to paper? 

Before starting the design process, the students took part in a Wavemaker workshop, where they learnt about the importance of our Ocean. Facts like how the Ocean provides over half of the oxygen we breathe, or how there are 1-2 million marine organisms yet to be discovered can really highlight how important, vast, and beautiful our Ocean is. 

In 2025, we also gave students a deeper insight into our Ocean positive storytelling approach.  

We focused on sharks and how they are heavily misunderstood because media and popular culture tend to demonise them. Gemma talked to students about the ‘Jaws Effect’ – the powerful influence of the famous 1975 Hollywood thriller on our perception of sharks.  

Many students took on the challenge of changing that narrative.  

Beany’s collection of twelve shark illustrations aims to destigmatise sharks by highlighting their beauty and wonder, as well as celebrating their biodiversity.  

Natalie Foster’s colourful illustrations shine new light on often misunderstood marine life, like sharks, orcas, and eels, using bright colours to show them in a positive light.  

In fact, most of this year’s designs focused on marine life. 

Juliana Isaza-Correa’s flowing jellyfish highlights the connection between land and sea through the vine-like tendrils of the jellyfish’s tentacles. 

Meanwhile, Jane Chang’s stunning rainbow anglerfish was inspired by the female sea devil who was unexpectedly found near the surface of the Ocean in early 2025.  

Making waves in Year 2: How the 2025 Wavemaker collection all came together 

Ocean Generation also made the project even more impactful in Year 2. 

In 2025, each designer received a tote bag featuring one of their designs. The students then could share their work on a real-life apparel item at their degree showcase in August 2025.  

There, the students talked to the public about their experiences working on this project and the inspiration behind each of their Ocean designs.  

We’re excited to share with you another wave of designs for our “Designed by You: Wavemakers Edition” collection. Each piece is a creative celebration of the Ocean, – and every purchase supports our charity’s work in Ocean education.  

A huge thank you to the University of Edinburgh for having us back for a second year. Here’s to Year 3! 

Bring Ocean Generation’s live briefs to your university 

We run live briefs via the Wavemaker programme, in many STEM fields, like aerospace engineering or game design, as well creative fields like performing arts and illustration. 

If you’d like Ocean Generation to bring a live brief or challenge to your university, college or youth group, please get in touch here.