TIBURCIA
Short description
A 101-page field guide documenting 31 species of sharks and rays along the Mediterranean coast of Murcia, Spain—combining scientific rigor with accessible design to raise public awareness about some of the ocean’s most misunderstood species. Sole graphic designer and illustrator on the project.
The Project
TIBURCIA is a conservation and outreach initiative developed in collaboration with the Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology at the University of Alicante and Ecologistas en Acción de la Región Murciana. Its goal: to document and raise awareness about the diversity and ecological importance of elasmobranch species—sharks and rays—present along the southeast coast of Spain, one of the Mediterranean’s most biologically significant coastlines.
The Challenge
Environmental outreach guides live or die by their ability to be both scientifically credible and genuinely accessible to a non-specialist audience. The guide needed to serve two very different readers simultaneously: marine biologists and researchers using it as a reference tool, and the general public—divers, fishermen, and coastal communities—who needed to connect emotionally with species they may fear or misunderstand. As the sole graphic designer and illustrator on the team, every creative decision was mine to make.
The Work
The guide documents 31 elasmobranch species found along the Murcian coastline, including protected and locally endemic species such as the endangered guitarfish, the common stingray, and the blue shark. Each species spread includes detailed morphological illustrations, distribution maps, habitat notes, threat status, and conservation data—structured as both a field reference and a readable narrative.
The 45 species illustrations required deep research into the anatomy, coloring, and behavior of each animal—and for someone already fascinated by sharks, this was as much a personal learning journey as a design commission. The visual language across the guide balances scientific precision with warmth: these are animals worth knowing, not fearing.
The cover and collateral—a three-fold brochure, roll-up banner, and poster—use a layered underwater silhouette illustration that communicates the depth and diversity of the ecosystem in a single image. The tonal blue palette keeps the visual language cohesive across all formats, from the 101-page printed guide to the digital version and event materials.
The guide also includes infographics explaining elasmobranch biology—reproductive strategies, anatomy, and ecological role—and an interactive map of the Murcian coastline showing species distribution and key habitat zones such as the pockmarks off Cabo de Palos.
The Deliverables
101-page field guide (digital and print), 45 species illustrations, infographics, distribution maps, three-fold brochure, roll-up banner, and poster. Published through the University of Alicante repository and available as an open-access resource.
ServicesGuide. 101 pgs (digital and print) and collateralRoleGraphic/Edtorial designer and illustratorClientDepartment of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology at the University of Alicante and Ecologistas en Acción de la Región murcianaYear2021Linkdrive.google.com
