Several months into the fight against COVID-19, Auburn University began to struggle with pandemic fatigue. Students were tired of being told to wear face masks. Tatum Design was tasked with providing a creative solution that would make wearing a mask the cool, socially conscious thing to do on campus. The objective was to inspire a groundswell of support for mask wearing at Auburn University.

Commonly known as the “Auburn Tigers,” Auburn University is one of the most spirited institutions in the country. With this in mind, our team saw the opportunity to leverage their school pride in a uniquely meaningful symbol. We created a graphic tiger paw in the center of the poster using several different kinds of face masks. The poster design establishes a strong connection between school spirit and social consciousness.

Auburn University loved the poster so much that they asked us to adapt the designs into a mural for downtown Auburn. The empowering, spirited tone of the poster spoke volumes to the whole community. It helped energize students in the fight against COVID-19 and encourage everyone to continue wearing a mask.