How to use illustration, positivity and a little irony to help save the planet

Illustrators Susie Hammer and Ro Ledesma met a few months back in their home of Barcelona, and became fast friends. One evening over a few beers, their conversation turned to “eco-anxiety” and rather than mull over the subject, the pair decided to use their illustrative talents to actually try to help.

Although the subject at hand is daunting, Susie and Ro’s approach is one of positivity, with a hint of irony which pulls it back from being too optimistic. By encouraging illustrators such as themselves to share what they love about the planet, the project began to grow legs, playing with the concept that without the planet, there is simply no fun.

This unique approach also broke through the cries of despair that often surround this subject, creating a project that feels open, inclusive and consequently expanded its pool of creators to include Gabinete Exquisito to direct the project’s graphic design, and Asesina Suárez and Lisando Illa to oversee its management. “Now we are five really good friends working together, supported by a team of artists and planet enthusiasts who share the same goal: doing what we know best in hopes of helping the planet.”

Living currently – but not limited to – an Instagram account, No Planet No Fun has begun by sharing facts “in a friendly, yet sour way” by “taking advantage of an aesthetic design to deliver the ugliest facts,” its founders tell It’s Nice That. Posts so far include illustrated messages such as “Go Vegan, Go Home” or “Killing me softly with his straw”. Alongside these bitesize, shareable eco-friendly reminders, the group have also shared reminder tips with its growing audience, pointing out the easy benefits of cooking in bulk, as well as reusable coffee cups and plastic bottles.

With this established aesthetic which feels joyful and welcoming at first glance, No Planet No Fun is ultimately presenting the creators’ belief that: “As illustrators, we know the power that an image can have.” In turn, the group also hopes to raise funds in support of environmental research, working towards an exhibition to take place in December this year, utilising “illustration as a powerful tool to create a disruption point in people’s lives.”

A project purely built from equal amounts of passion and concern for the planet, No Planet No Fun is a key example of how to use creativity in order to discuss a topic that is “difficult to approach,” the group admits. “Many great sources of information can’t reach a greater audience only for the fact that they’re not attractive enough. We want to use design and illustration to share information in a friendly format, trying to be simple, yet seductive. No one wants to go through Instagram to look at depressing and boring chunks of information – or at least we don’t.”

You can find out more about No Planet No Fun here and get involved!