Innovative Farmers: Field Journal

Designing a print publication that highlights independent farmers championing sustainable, innovative practices.

Illustration by Ed Harrison of a female farmer surrounded by insects and wildflowers, created for the Soil Association.
Illustration, Infographics, Graphic design

Soil Association

Working with Soil Association to create the design and illustrations for the Innovative Farmers Field Journal.

“Ed is a great communicator. The finished product is exactly what we were hoping for.”

Bex Tyers, Soil Association Farming Communications Officer

The brief

  • Soil Association is one of the biggest UK-based charities dedicated to organic farming and sustainable food production.
  • They brought me on board to design the Innovative Farmers Field Journal, an annual publication highlighting independent farmers pushing the boundaries of sustainable agriculture.

The idea

  • I designed a map to showcase Field Labs across the UK, featuring spot illustrations to highlight the network of farmers and growers conducting on-farm trials.
  • The infographic showcases the project's nationwide impact, combining icons and data visuals to communicate key achievements clearly and effectively.
  • I created a series of playful, engaging illustrations of nature-friendly farming practices, which brought the pages to life whilst communicating some of the work in the field.

The result

  • The Field Journals were sustainably printed in high volumes and distributed nationwide, helping to expand their reach and share farmer-led research, and innovative projects within their network and beyond.
  • The Soil Association was so pleased with the first publication that they reused the template and illustrations the following year - a testament to the success and impact of the design.
Eco-therapist and artist Ed Harrison on his knees planting squash seedlings in the vegetable patch
Eco-therapist and artist Ed Harrison pulling a beetroot from the soil
Eco-therapist and artist Ed Harrison holding up a bunch of soil-covered beetroots in the vegetable garden

Circling back to the soil

The project kicked off during growing season, allowing me to move between the design studio and the allotment, immersing myself in seeds and soil to fuel my inspiration.

A series of Illustrated icons visualising sustainable agricuture practicies by Ed Harrison created for Soil Association.
Illustration by Ed Harrison of farmers examining soil in a thriving rewilded landscape.

Maps & infographics

The infographics combine icons and data visuals to communicate key achievements effectively, whilst the map integrates spot illustration to highlight the nationwide network of Innovative Farmers in the UK.

An book page with an infographic visualising sustainable agricuture designed by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
A map showing sustainable farmers located in the UK, designed by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
An open book visualising sustainable agricuture infographics designed by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.

The illustrations

I created a series of playful, engaging illustrations of nature-friendly farming practices, which brought the pages to life whilst communicating some of the work in the field.

An illustration by Ed Harrison of farmers analysing soil in a rewilded landscape, surrounded by insects and wildflowers, created for the Soil Association.
An illustration by Ed Harrison of farmers working in a landscape flourishing with insects and wildflowers, created for the Soil Association.
A laptop on a desk showing a page designed by Ed Harrison Soil Association for their Field Journal.
An open book spread visualising sustainable agricuture illustrated by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
A greyscale grid showing a the illustration process behind artwork created by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
An illustrated circle of soil, insects, wildflowers and flourishing vegetables, created by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
An open book visualising sustainable agricuture practicies designed by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.
An open book showing information about Soil Association's Field labs, designed by Ed Harrison.
An open book visualising sustainable agricuture practicies designed by Ed Harrison for Soil Association.

The result

Sustainably printed in high volumes and distributed nationwide, the printed journals continue to expand the reach of the innovative farmer-led projects via the Soil Association network and beyond.