Problem Statement

Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts frequently encounter plants they cannot identify and have no quick, portable way to get safety information in the field.

The Solution

I designed a compact card system that allows users to quickly identify poisonous plants and understand their effects at a glance. The focus was on creating a clear visual structure that could be understood quickly in real world conditions.

Research and the Design System

A key part of this project was creating a tagging system that organizes information across every card.

I first began with researching and organizing all of the plant information into a spreadsheet:

I then created a design system in order to visually identify each section. This system creates consistency across all 55 cards and allows users to quickly understand information without relying on long descriptions.

Each card includes:

• A category icon to identify the type of plant

• Tags that show the affected body system

• A severity level scale from mild to medical emergency

Visual Development

I chose to create all illustrations by hand as vectors to maintain consistency and clarity across the deck.

Physical Production

I printed each card and assembled them by hand to bring the system into a physical format. The cards were printed on satin paper, cut individually, and adhered together to create double sided pieces.

Final Product

Reflection

This was the most independently demanding project I’ve taken on. Every part of it was mine to figure out, from sourcing accurate plant data across dozens of species to building a consistent visual system from scratch. The biggest challenge was the illustrations, since I drew all 55 by hand as vectors. That decision cost time but made the deck feel deliberate. I came out of this project with a much clearer sense of what I am capable of as a designer when I commit to a standard.