Project Uilenspiegel: Interactive Ecological Education

A collaboration with RLVA and MOKA Design Studio.

How do you engage the next generation with regional biodiversity?

For Project Uilenspiegel, I partnered with Regionaal Landschap Vlaamse Ardennen (RLVA) and MOKA Design Studio to create an interactive, experiential exhibition panel for children.

MOKA engineered a custom "look-through" physical installation, for which I designed a layered, visual narrative. The strategic goal of the project was twofold: to introduce the five native owl species of the Flemish Ardennes, and to foster an emotional connection to this protected, dreamy landscape through playful visual discovery.

Five owl species Native to the Flemish Ardennes

Strategic Artistic Development

The Creative Brief

RLVA’s vision was a dense, vibrant illustration teeming with life, a "seek-and-find" (Where’s Waldo) concept, adapted to be clear and accessible for young eyes.

From Data to Habitat Mapping

To ground the artwork in reality, I designed a narrative landscape:

• The Foreground:Travelers walking out of a dense forest.
• The Midground:A typical Flemish agricultural landscape lined with historic pollard willows (knotwilgen), unfolding into open fields and meadows.
• The Background:A distant local village nestled into the rolling hills.

This specific layout wasn't just aesthetic, it allowed me to seamlessly map out the five distinct ecological territories required for each owl species to thrive.

Gamification

To maximize engagement, the visual strategy required each owl species to appear twice within the landscape:

1. The "Hook":One specimen placed in plain sight to build confidence and reward immediate curiosity.
2. The "Challenge":A second specimen deeply integrated into its natural camouflage, encouraging prolonged observation and deeper interaction with the landscape.

The concept sketch

The outcome

The final artwork was specifically optimized for a high-contrast lightbox display, ensuring that the bright colors and intricate details pop through MOKA’s physical viewing apertures. The installation transforms environmental education into an immersive, joyful game for children.

Local Expertise

This project held a unique significance for me. As a resident of the Flemish Ardennes, my creative process relied directly on my lived knowledge of our local ecosystems.  

The team at RLVA embraced the vision, requesting just one addition: integrating the elusive, endangered garden dormouse (eikelmuis) into the landscape tapestry, a challenge I gladly accepted to add yet another layer of regional ecology.

Current Status

The exhibition is currently in production. Photographs of the physical installation and children interacting with the lightbox will be updated here as soon as the event launches.

The final illustration