Pilot 4 – Engaging Students in Awareness-Raising through Communication Design

Zealand Pop-Up Bureau (Nov 4–15, 2025, Nykøbing Falster, Denmark)

Zealand is an academy of higher education in Denmark, comparable to a University of Applied Sciences. Each year, in collaboration with Business Lolland-Falster, Zealand’s Multimedia Design program organizes a Pop-Up Bureau, where companies pitch real-world tasks to small student groups. Over two weeks, the students develop and present solutions, typically in the form of a Design Manual, Concept, Data Analysis, Process Description, Prototype, or similar outputs.

The Pitch

Guldborgsund Municipality’s Bioeconomy Hotspot presented a 15-minute pitch on TETRAS, with a particular focus on Pilot 4. Students were introduced to key aspects of the project:

• A Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) demonstration facility will be established at CELF/HTX (higher education) at Merkurs Plads, Nykøbing F.
• The facility will showcase aquaponics, where fish and plants grow together in a closed-loop system, serving as both a data collection hub and a communication platform.
• The system will be housed in a pavilion/container, featuring a large exterior surface that could be used for messaging and awareness-raising.
• The goal is to provoke thought on topics such as:
  • “Where do our edible fish come from?”
  • “How much do you know about your food fish?”
  • “Do you know your fish?”
  • “Do you know what you eat?”
• Students were provided with resources and links for further exploration and given the opportunity to contact project representatives for additional information.

One student, who was also a trainedcook, contributed valuable insights and asked highly relevant questions, leading to a fruitful discussion after the pitch.

The Task

On behalf of TETRAS Pilot 4, Guldborgsund Municipality assigned the students both a concrete and an open-ended task:

1. Design a large banner/message wall to be mounted on the exterior surface of the RAS pavilion at Skov Alleen/Merkurs Plads.
2. Develop a graphic design/visual identity for the demonstration facility—potentially including icons for social media and other communication tools.

Outputs and Awareness Value

The students created two key products:

1. A banner design, cleverly divided into three sections, allowing for both combined and individual use. The banner features thought-provoking questions about fish production, information about the fish, and a circular fish production infographic.
2. An information leaflet, packed with multiple layers of content, including:
   • TETRAS project details
   • Circular economy principles
   • Facts about Clarias fish
   • A recipe for a Clarias fish burger, infused with humor and featuring a QR code for further exploration.

While the Pop-Up Bureau does not aim to produce ready-to-use materials, the students made significant progress (you can see their work in the gallery below. The produced material is a reflection of the students work and will not be used as official dissemination material of the project).  Regardless, the results reflect high ambitions and a strong balance between scientific knowledge and accessibility. The materials effectively communicate RAS technology to a broad audience while making the content engaging, visually appealing, and even interactive through cooking inspiration.

Acknowledgments

A big thank you to the students who dedicated their creativity and skills to the Demo RAS awareness task: Qendresa Gashi, Diellza Kurti, Lukas William Pedersen, Max Schrøder Christiansen, Diego Mauricio, and Emil Nielsen Kryger.

Student Worker at CELF Higher Education Designs Roll-Ups and Banner for RAS Facility

Building on the inspiration from the student work above, and through a process involving more dialogue, a graduate from CELF Technical Gymnasium, specialized in communication and media, designed the graphics and contributed attention-grabbing headlines relevant to students.

The pictures are from the opening day at CELF, marking the launch of Denmark’s first innovation hub for youth students. The RAS facility had arrived and was tested with water the day before, allowing guests to view the equipment firsthand. The system is now an integral part of the school’s hands-on learning opportunities.

Programme Manual Online

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