Designed while at Thirst

This short commemorative video trailer celebrates 40 years of accomplishments by Friends of the Chicago River. Friends, founded in 1979, is one of the city’s longest-running organizations working to improve the health of the Chicago River system for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Inspired by design legend John Massey's Chicago Has A Great Lake poster, the video design brings Massey modernism to the River, with simple geometric shapes representing people, plants, and swimming fish. The original soundtrack is a literal representation of Friends, beginning with one solo marimba player and adding performers one-by-one as the piece flows forward.