THE COACHLINGS
Recycle Coach is an online platform designed to help residents in cities across North America learn how to properly dispose of household waste, recycling, and compost. To make this educational content more approachable and engaging for users of all ages, the team introduced a cast of friendly characters called “The Coachlings.”
I was brought on to design and illustrate the Coachlings, bringing personality and playfulness to what can often be a dry or overlooked topic. Each Coachling represents a different type of waste material — from plastics and organics to hazardous items — and was designed to help guide users through the rules and best practices of proper disposal in a fun, accessible way.
In addition to the characters themselves, I illustrated a full set of environments and waste-related elements to support the educational journey — creating a whimsical, interactive world where learning about garbage doesn’t have to feel like garbage.
The result was a charming visual system that helped simplify complex waste guidelines and turned everyday recycling habits into something more memorable and meaningful.
CHARACTER DESIGN / ILLUSTRATION