Reef Carpet Editorial Cover

Client
Shehryar (Shay) Saharan, University of Toronto

Year
2025

Audience
General Population

Tools
Autodesk Maya, Photoshop, Procreate

Description
Reef carpets are designed to enhance biodiversity by integrating nursery-grown corals with associated reef organisms, creating immediate habitats that support a diverse range of marine life. This editorial cover aims to metaphorically explore this restoration strategy using visual storytelling.

Initial Thumbnails & Sketches
This project began with research, followed by quick thumbnailing sketches. With helpful feedback from the client and peers, rough ideas turned into more polished digital drafts.

Modelling
After sketches were finalized, models were created. All assets were modelled in Maya.

Textures & Lighting
Textures were added to the models, including hand-drawn elements created in Procreate. Lighting was adjusted through several iterations to achieve the desired underwater atmosphere.

Compositing
Photoshop and Procreate were used in post-production and finalize the cover.