LUNA
THE MOON-GAZING MOTH
Agency: Glimpse
Client/Campaign: Climate Action Fund, National Lottery Community Fund
Brief: Imagine a world where we connected with the vastness of nature in our local park
We know that creating a deeper connection with nature leads to changing people’s behaviours and building greater care for the environment. However, nature simply isn’t present in our everyday lives in ways that feel relevant to enough people. If we want to tackle the climate and nature crises, our job is to help redefine what people think of as nature, and find moments of awe in that.
In this project, Glimpse worked with local, climate groups up and down the country, funded by the National Lottery Climate Action Fund. The work of each group is very different, from fostering nature connection via a community’s love of bees, to restoring habitats and promoting citizen science. We needed an idea that would unify all of them, wherever they are in the UK, so we thought - what about looking up at something we all share?
I was tasked with designing a magical and enticing mobile moongazing experience. The unit had to integrate a powerful telescope, and have the ability to tour the UK, attracting families and people who don’t consider themselves environmentalists, whilst inspiring moments of awe in a way that builds support for the local climate action groups it visited.
Enter LUNA. A lovingly built five-meter sculpture of a ‘Luna moth’, using mostly recycled materials, mounted to an electric cargo bike complete with powerful telescope integrated into her frame.
Luna moths are drawn to the moon, using it for navigation, and like these intriguing creatures, the public were able to gaze through the onboard telescope for their own, awe-inspiring, close up glimpses of the moon.
I wanted LUNA to have oversized kawaii appeal, with a somewhat mythical feel, so she would create a visual spectacle even on cloudy nights. With her big eyes, mechanical wings, tactile materials and neon palette this was achieved. Alongside this, the local climate groups wore LUNA branded, glow-in-the-dark T-shirts and patches, which were printed on-site and handed out, helping them to engage the public and giving them an air of cool authority.
LUNA ultimately toured the breadth of the country, promoting the great work of the community projects supported by The Climate Action Fund, attracting long queues, with over 1000 views through the telescope, gaining wide-spread media attention along the way.
Photography, Amy Hill
