The Vision for Environmental Change
Joci and Friends LLC, a small business owned by Jocelyn (Joci) Blank in Neapolis Ohio, began as a company providing cleaning, elderly care, and pet-sitting services years ago. Unable to find high-quality, environmentally friendly, and affordable cleaning products, along with her concern about our impact on the planet, Joci decided to take matters into her own hands and transition her business into a store that offers high-quality, environmentally friendly, and affordable products to her community.
My Role in the Transformation
As a Visual Content Artist intern, I played an important role in bringing Joci's vision to life. My journey with Joci and Friends LLC included two co-ops, and it was during the second co-op that I had the privilege of being involved in the launch of Joci's storefront called The Eco-Fill Shop by Joci and Friends LLC, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. One service offered in the storefront is a refill station so customers can bring in bottles and/or jars and fill them with the product of their choice.
I created the website in Shopify and chose a color palette and typography that reflects the eco-friendliness of the products and mission, and the feel of a woman-owned company. Earthy tones reflected the natural ingredients, while a pop of pink (inspired by the company's logo) and a bold elegant type added a touch of vibrancy and femininity throughout the website.
A pivotal part of this project was product photography for the website. I took on the responsibility of capturing natural and eco-friendly products through lifestyle photography for featured sections, and through a minimalist look to showcase the items on the products page.
I also created eye-catching illustrations and wrote concise text to effectively communicate and highlight the Bottle Return Program and how the business is committed to reducing plastic.
Reflection
I had the privilege of assisting a small business in its transformation into both an e-commerce store and a physical storefront. The experience of closely collaborating with a small business owner, being part of a tight-knit team, and witnessing the business's growth, was incredibly rewarding. Additionally, it felt meaningful to support a business that cares about the environment and our well-being, which is what I value as well.
