Hello class,
We’ve been invited by Sea Turtle Inc. (South Padre Island) to collaborate on a client-sponsored senior capstone focused on marine conservation and community education. This is a great chance to work with a real nonprofit partner, build your portfolio, and see your work used in the Rio Grande Valley.
Timeline for short-term group project (Senior Project)
- Weeks 1–2: Client briefing & research
- Weeks 3–6: Concept + prototyping
- Weeks 7–10: Refinement & final presentation to client
If you’re interested in joining the project and have questions about the scope or workload, please let me know. I’ll be glad to help you decide whether it’s a good fit. I’m looking forward to seeing who steps in on this opportunity to create design work that makes a real impact in our community.
Best,
Ping Xu
Associate Professor, Visual Communication Design
UTRGV
Project Brief (Sea Turtle Inc. Collaboration)
Project Title:
Sea Turtle Inc. Educational Outreach Exhibit Design
Project Overview
Sea Turtle Inc. is transforming a Winnebago RV into a Mobile Education and Outreach Unit that brings the story of sea turtle conservation directly to schools, community events, and underserved areas across South Texas. Modeled after our state-of-the-art Sea Turtle Hospital, the RV will immerse visitors of all ages in the real-world process of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick and injured sea turtles.
Through engaging illustrations, storytelling panels, and interactive digital tools, visitors will learn about
the vital work Sea Turtle Inc. does to protect endangered sea turtles while discovering how their own actions can make a difference.
Background: https://seaturtleinc.org/
Sea Turtle Inc.
(956) 761-4511
6617 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX 78597
First Visit: September 18, 2025, at 2:30 PM
If you choose the Sea Turtle project, please email me at your earliest convenience. You will only be required to complete two projects for the class. We will meet with Sea Turtle Inc. on September 18, 2025, at 2:30 PM at the address provided above.
Objectives
- Inspire kids and families to connect emotionally with sea turtles through storytelling-based exhibits.
- Showcase the rescue–rehab–release journey using illustrated panels and clear, age-appropriate
explanations. - Provide interactive learning opportunities that blend science with play, making conservation fun and memorable.
- Increase community awareness of threats facing sea turtles (plastic pollution, boat strikes,
entanglement). - Expand access to conservation education in communities that may not be able to visit our facility.
Content & Exhibit Design
Inside the RV, educational stations will be designed around illustrated storytelling panels paired with interactive features:
- Rescue Station – Illustrations of stranded sea turtles being discovered and transported to the hospital. Story text explains what community members should do if they find an injured turtle.
- Rehab Station – Illustrated panels of medical care: x-rays, surgeries, feeding tubes, and daily husbandry. These panels will highlight the role of veterinarians and volunteers.
- Release Station – Colorful imagery of turtles being released back to the ocean, symbolizing hope and resilience. QR codes and augmented features can link to videos of real Sea Turtle Inc. releases.
- Interactive Apps & Digital Learning
> X-Ray Explorer App – Kids can “click” on different parts of a sea turtle x-ray (broken flipper, swallowed plastic bag, boat strike) to learn what caused the injury and how Sea Turtle Inc. helps treat it.
> Sea Turtle Species App – An interactive touch-screen quiz/game where visitors match species (Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, green, hawksbill, leatherback) with their unique traits and threats.
> Conservation Challenges – Games where kids make choices (e.g., plastic straw vs. reusable - cup) and see how these actions affect turtle survival.
Deliverables
- Illustrated storytelling panels for the RV interior (Rescue, Rehab, Release).
- Interactive touchscreen stations or app-based activities for x-ray learning and turtle ID.
- Supporting signage, wayfinding, and QR codes that connect to Sea Turtle Inc. videos, stories, and resources.
- Kid-friendly takeaway materials (e.g., activity sheets, conservation pledges).
Audience
- K-12 students
- Families at community events
- Teachers and educators
- Conservation-minded community members
Impact
The Mobile RV will reach thousands of people annually across the Rio Grande Valley and beyond, expanding access to conservation education, inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, and strengthening Sea Turtle Inc.’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release endangered sea turtles.
Evaluation Criteria:
- Creativity and originality of the design solution.
- Alignment with Sea Turtle Inc.’s mission and outreach needs.
- Clarity and effectiveness of visual communication for diverse audiences.
- Professional execution and presentation.
- Demonstrated process and research.
Timeline (Short-Term):
- Week 1–2: Research & client briefing (students meet with Sea Turtle Inc.).
- Week 3–6: Ideation, sketching, and prototyping.
- Week 7–10: Refinement and production of final deliverables.
- Final Week: Presentation to faculty and Sea Turtle Inc. representatives.
Long-Term Project Deadline (Graduate Student)
March 31, 2026
Additional message from Sea Turtle Inc’s education team
Our Mobile Outreach Unit, created from a donated Winnebago RV aims to bring the unique experience of our state-of-the-art sea turtle hospital directly into communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.
The RV will be stripped and refitted with educational materials developed onsite by our staff. The concept is immersive and interactive, with 2D and 3D displays, sensory features such as underwater lighting and sound effects. The goal is to create a space where visitors feel as though they are “underwater” learning about the importance of sea turtle conservation.
Our team is currently working on the curriculum and interactive concepts, which will include hands-on learning opportunities about sea turtle biology, rehabilitation, conservation, and environmental stewardship. We envision a mobile space that is engaging, educational, and inspiring for all ages.
Group List for the Sea Turtle Project
| IXD Group (Group-A) | Illustration & Infographic Group (Group-B) | Collateral & Visuals Group (Group-C) |
| Adrian Ortega (Grad Student) | Viviana Cavazos (ARTS-4396) | Kate Garcia Purdum (ARTS-4396) |
| Elizabeth Hord (Grad Student) | Daniella Gonzalez (ARTS-4396) | Grecia Soto Cabrales (ARTS-4334) |
| Maya Cook (ARTS-4334) | Victoria Camarillo |