Yellow Canteen

Initiative · Art Director · No AI Involvement · 2024

Through research, a solution was discovered by the team — Flies hate yellow. The colour yellow is actually the number one colour that repels flies.Through research, a solution was discovered by the team — Flies hate yellow. The colour yellow is actually the number one colour that repels flies.

The social problem

Indonesia's hot, humid climate is a perfect breeding ground for flies, posing health risks. In many open-air school canteens, flies have access to students, which can lead to illness and even death.

Our brand's role

Indonesia's hot, humid climate is a perfect breeding ground for flies, posing health risks. In many open-air school canteens, flies have access to students, which can lead to illness and even death.

TransTV, Students Contract Food Poisoning

Research & study

We looked into the correlation between colors and flies, and were surprised to come across research from the University of Florida in the United States and other sources.

To confirm the findings, we conducted an experiment outside the school canteen.

We transformed everything in the canteen to yellow, including the chairs, tables, and walls, to repel flies. This not only kept flies away but also created a more vibrant and cleaner environment for the students.

The result

The results were impressive. Not only did it repel flies, but it also influenced the community to use more yellow items, further amplifying the effectiveness of the idea.

We began with a pilot program in a few schools around Jakarta and Bogor. The initiative was well-received, and we received numerous requests through our website, yellowcanteen.org. Some school even implemented this creative solution themselves, as it’s remarkably simple.

Project Yellow Canteen has not only been loved by locals, but has also garnered international acclaim, not just within the advertising and marketing industry. News of the initiative has sparked discussions in diverse fields like trend/lifestyle, tech & science, health and education across America, Europe and Asia Pacific.