This project examines the phosphate trade between Western Sahara and Aotearoa New Zealand—a contentious supply chain that raises questions of settler colonialism, environmental justice, and Indigenous sovereignty. Developed as part of my collaborative work with artist and designer Matthew Galloway, the project investigates how visual communication can expose extractive systems often hidden from public view. I combined storytelling, spatial mapping, and advocacy design to build an interactive platform that traces the journey of phosphate from mine to field. By revealing the actors and infrastructures behind this trade, the project invites viewers to consider the complicity of agricultural systems in global injustices and opens space for critical reflection and solidarity with Saharawi self-determination efforts.
Bridging academic research and digital practice, my approach involved mapping datasets from NGOs like Western Sahara Resource Watch alongside historical and contemporary shipping records. I used custom-built Mapbox interfaces to animate phosphate shipment routes, integrating interactive timelines and contextual overlays. Beyond data, the project relied on design as a tool for advocacy—embedding audio clips, protest imagery, and citations to confront the viewer with layered narratives. The interface was designed to be navigated non-linearly, echoing the fragmented and often obscured nature of extractive logistics. Throughout, the kaupapa of Indigenous design practice grounded the work: privileging relational storytelling, transparency, and resistance.
