UIUC Geese EducationalCampaign

Design Research and Social Media Campaign

Follow the project on Instagram @geese1867!

Project Overview

The UIUC Geese project is a campaign aimed at reducting negative perceptions and unsafe interactions between UIUC community members and geese. This project focuses beyond "Human-Centered" design and adds a enviromental awareness component.

The Problem

Students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign feel uncertainty around the geese that live on campus. Many of them recall stories from peers about geese hissings, chasing, and biting. Additionally, the effect of human interaction affects the health and safety of geese.

How Can We Statement

How might we reduce the negative perceptions and harmful behaviors of University of Illinois students towards geese?

My Role

UX Researcher and Designer

Client

Professor Jane Desmond

Project Type

Social Media Campaign

Deliverables

Social Media Content, Brand Guidelines, Promotional Posters

Tools

Figma, Figjam, Adobe Illustrator

Industry

Education, Environmental Awareness

Contributions

Mithali Iyer Rachel Madamba Brianna Regione Andrew Parana

Timeline

Jan 2026 - May 2026

Research Insights

Negative Perceptions

44.2% of students report negative feelings toward geese compared to 31.9% of the Champaign–Urbana community, likely due to more frequent campus interactions. Past aggressive encounters also contribute to fear.

Sanitation & Health

The most common complaints involve geese droppings, mess on walkways, and concerns about disease transmission, such as bird flu.

Human Activity

Many goose injuries in the Champaign-Urbana area result from human activity, including trash consumption, fishing line entanglement, vehicle collisions, and shootings.