Magazine and Book Design

The Common Space and Isle of Wight Council

BRANDING AND VISUAL IDENTITY • 4 BOOK PUBLICATIONS • SQUARE LEAFLET • BANNERS • GRAPHIC DESIGN • ILLUSTRATION • PRINT

Island Nature (part of The Common Space) were commissioned to produce the Isle of Wight’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council – one of the first LNRSs in England, and the first within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

My role was to design, illustrate, and fully produce and print the entire suite of LNRS publications – transforming a huge, technical strategy into a cohesive set of accessible, engaging books for public release.

So what is a Local Nature Recovery Strategy?

In short, it’s a mapped plan for protecting, restoring, and improving nature in a specific area, showing where action is most needed and how people can help.

After two years of research, engagement and gathering dense ecological data, one of the key challenges was turning government-guidelined strategic documents into something accessible, engaging, and easy for people to navigate.

"Having worked with MooksGoo across many campaigns, The Common Space trusted Michelle to bring this huge project to life. The LNRS involved acres of text, species lists, technical method tables, the story of the whole Island, toolkits, a website, and banners – all needing a clear visual identity. Thanks to Michelle’s design and illustration, the entire body of work came together beautifully, with brilliant designs and clear, colourful illustrations that highlight the Island’s most at-risk and often unsung species, from Apple moss to the Water vole."

The Isle of Wight LNRS launched in May 2025 with UK Government approval and recognition as a national exemplar and blueprint for England - something which I'm so very proud of! It continues to receive praise for its clarity, creativity, and engaging approach to nature recovery storytelling.

The artwork draws inspiration from the Island’s diverse habitats and species, using hand-drawn botanical elements, soft organic shapes, and playful environmental details that invite closer inspection. Subtle textures, bright but balanced colours, and fluid lines create a sense of movement and life throughout the layouts, mirroring the energy and diversity of the Island’s wildlife.

This visual identity centres on a “the more you look, the more you see” experience, with hidden creatures, habitat motifs, and gentle storytelling touches woven throughout. These details not only celebrate the Isle of Wight’s biodiversity, but also help viewers build a deep emotional connection with the subject matter.

The overall style is cohesive, friendly, and modern, with a strong focus on accessibility: clear hierarchy, simple icons, intuitive spacing, and typography that guides the reader through scientific concepts with ease. The result is a set of publications and public-facing materials that feel informative yet magical; professional yet playful - transforming important conservation data into something people genuinely enjoy exploring.

You can view these books at most Isle of Wight libraries, or they are available to view digitally on my website below. They're also on Island Nature's website or the Isle of Wight Council's website.

This was an absolute dream project - design meets conservation in a way that supports our wild Island.

"This was a massive challenge… but thanks to Michelle’s creativity it all came together brilliantly. Her enthusiasm, commitment and positive approach to problem-solving, along with extraordinary patience and professionalism are second to none – in short, we recommend you work with her always!"

Claire Hector, The Common Space