
We Tried to Warn You!
Partner
Poster House
Role
Creative Director
Producer &
Designer
Awards
We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters 1970–2020 traces the global history of environmental activism through posters spanning five decades, ranging in tone from whimsical to apocalyptic. While these posters have played a significant role in raising public awareness, the environmental issues they depict have largely persisted. This exhibition critically examines how graphic design has both expanded and, at times, limited conversations around the environmental crisis, often obscuring deeper systemic causes and overlooking the structural inequalities at the heart of these problems.
Initially, the exhibition design was conceived with visuals directly depicting climate change, but this approach felt overwhelmingly bleak. Instead, the design shifted toward a more hopeful vision, focusing on the perfect balance of nature and Earth’s capacity to heal when left undisturbed. Divided into four interconnected sections—Earth, Wind, Fire, Water—the exhibition reflects nature's interdependence, with each element seamlessly blending into the next. The design incorporates flowing lines and organic shapes, reinforcing the idea of nature's equilibrium.
The exhibition’s custom color palette avoids predictable choices, using Pine Green and Lilac to represent Earth’s grounding forces, Lilac and Deep Blue to evoke Water’s fluidity, Gray to symbolize the invisible power of Air, and Deep Yellow to capture the intensity of Fire. These combinations add subtle depth and sophistication to the visual narrative.
In alignment with the exhibition’s sustainable ethos, hand-painted murals replace vinyl production, and typography takes on a crucial role. The Climate Crisis font, commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and designed by Daniel Coull and Eino Korkala, is used throughout. This variable typeface visually degrades over time, reflecting the melting of Arctic sea ice from 1979 to 2050. Each letter appears to "melt," underscoring the urgency of the climate crisis. Hand-drawn titles reinforce the intimate, crafted aesthetic, enhancing the exhibition’s connection to nature and humanity.
Celebrating the beauty and interconnectivity of Earth's elements, We Tried to Warn You! offers a vision of hope—reminding visitors that if we collectively act, nature has the potential to restore its balance. Through this thoughtful and inspiring design, the exhibition encourages reflection on the enduring power of environmental activism and the critical need for systemic change.













Photography & videography by Sameul Morgan, courtesy of Poster House