From Classroom to Conservation: UMass Amherst Art Students Collaborate with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Environmental Art Project
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UMass Amherst art students recently partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to create an extensive online library of graphics to be used by National Wildlife Refuge System employees for educational materials and outreach efforts throughout the Northeast United States and beyond, bridging the gap between art and environmental impact.
Spearheaded by Jacquelyn Sadowski, who works for USFWS Visitor Services, the project helped the organization meet its needs for wildlife graphics to be used in its junior ranger booklets, social media posts, events/programs flyers, presentations and potential exhibit displays.
Professor of Art Jeffery Kasper led his students to create the graphics through his course ART364: Design Thinking for Social Innovation. The collaboration was a perfect fit, Kasper says, as his service learning class was ready in rotation for the partnership. Both Kasper and Sadowski saw an opportunity for UMass students to make a tangible, real-world impact.
The project—which began in the fall 2023 semester and continued through the spring—was meticulously structured, with 14 students organized into teams focused on different environmental settings: Coastal, Wetland, Urban, and Woodland. Each team delved into research on species within their assigned habitat, producing a diverse array of hand-rendered and digital artwork ranging from animals to flora and backgrounds. With guidance from the USFWS, students executed research, visiting refugee sites, and pitched different styles and visuals to align correctly with each of the species that were to be illustrated.
Students focused on many different aspects of their artwork and got the opportunity to learn about the actual design process alongside the agency.
With an expertise in accessibility through art, Kasper ensured students would be creating a variety of materials that would work for all audiences, such as line versions of the illustrations for touch tours, images with alternate colors to accommodate those who may be color blind, and rich image descriptions. Along with this, students created different visualizations to demonstrate the application of each illustration by the agency, such as how the graphics might specifically be used, or how it would be best laid out on a page.
With wildlife refuges around the country, this was the most expensive partnership Kasper’s class had embarked on, and it provided the university students with real-world experience, as well as a glimpse at the intersectionality of art and design within the environment.
Kasper says he was pleasantly surprised by the variety of artwork and approaches his students came up with, along with how supportive the agency was to work one on one with students to give them feedback.
“I’m honored that the USFWS took the time and care to create a system where these designs are going to have a life, and I’m happy that the students took on the process,” he says. “It’s a good example that we can take what we can learn while also contributing to our community, beyond the walls of the university.”
Sadowski underscored the positive impact the graphics will have.
“This collaboration far exceeded any of my expectations: the gifted students, Professor Kasper’s enthusiastic energy and, of course, the marvelous designs,” Sadowski says. “This project perfectly demonstrates innovative thinking through the blending of creativity and conservation. Since people experience nature in diverse ways, the arts can be a powerful bridge to foster deeper connections with the environment.”
For students like Lafayette Herard, the interactive nature of the project provided a pivotal learning experience with lasting impacts. They built an immense collection of material for their portfolio and gained experience working with a large-scale client.
Moreover, the project opened doors to potential career paths, with one student even securing employment with the agency following graduation, Kasper says.
Kasper refers to this collaboration as an amazing case study of work that can be used for different purposes, a confirmation that students can exceed. He highlights that the opportunity showcased a robust and rich route in art and design, considering different ways that it can affect change within the community.
“We tend to limit ourselves when creating something meaningful on a tight timeline. This proves if we can do it for organizations like the government, we can do it for all types of clients,” Kasper says.
The art is currently available for use by employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service via an online library. Each student who participated was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their extraordinary efforts to the organization.
