Making deadly smoke visible

Smokeless is a California nonprofit that helps women in Kenya transition from firewood and charcoal to clean gas cooking. More than 2 billion people cook daily in deadly smoke. Women and children are the most exposed to the smoke. The problem is serious but overlooked.

Donors, partners and local communities didn't understand its scale or health impact. Design 86 created the visual identity, website and animated explainer video to show the problem.

The identity grew from our earlier work for Smokeless Kitchen. The logo combines clean cooking flames with hearts arranged in a circle.

Design 86 designed and developed the one page website and four minute animated film.

The film shows women collecting firewood and cooking in kitchens full of smoke. We used illustration to show how Smokeless Kitchen provides clean cooking while creating income for women.

The identity remains in use today. The Smokeless name and visual language later extended to other initiatives, including Smokeless College.