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Thatched wooden information board about hornbills with coiled ropes and gear, blurred visitors pushing a stroller at right.

Designing comprehensive, accessible signage for Chester Zoo.

Discipline:
Illustration, Interiors, Print, Signage, Strategy
Location:
Chester
Sectors:
Built Environment, Charity & Non-profit, Culture & Education, Retail & Leisure
Chester zoo is the UK’s most paid-for visitor attraction outside of London and is home to 35,000 animals from 500 different species.

We worked with Chester Zoo to design over 50 interpretation signs for their ‘Islands’ habitat. The signs needed to display the key information quickly as well as containing further in depth reading for diligent readers. All the signs had to be accessible to the zoo’s audiences and where possible raise awareness of its conservation efforts. Designs included illustrated maps, directional signage, detailed skeletal drawings and noticeboard style signs from across the attraction.
Sign on a bamboo shelter reading Hornbills are threatened by habitat loss, with blurred red flowers in the foreground.Sign on a bamboo shelter reading Hornbills are threatened by habitat loss, with blurred red flowers in the foreground.
Sign showing disappearing South East Asian forests with maps of Borneo and Sumatra under a thatched shelter amid foliage.Sign showing disappearing South East Asian forests with maps of Borneo and Sumatra under a thatched shelter amid foliage.
Orangutan skeleton infographic showing long arms, opposable big toes, curved fingers and adapted shoulder and hip joints.
Sign reading Welcome to the Lazy River Boat Trip with illustrated island map, 10–15 minute trip info and icons, mounted on a wooden post
Infographic about macaques showing photos and captions of social behaviours such as grooming, yawning and hugging.
Poster 'We're acting for Indonesian songbirds' on wooden posts amid foliage, with empty birdcages and signs.
Wooden outdoor kiosk with a poster about oil palm plantations causing deforestation, coiled ropes and a small wooden crate.
Sign reading Come and touch our orangutan webbing with a cartoon orangutan swinging on ropes and a palm frond below
Orange-bordered sign showing a replica orangutan research station diagram on a stake with a green leaf behind.
Thatched wooden shelter with ropes, climbing gear and helmet, a board about orangutan conservation and a red bench.
Red and white sign reading ACT FOR WILDLIFE, partly hidden among bamboo leaves
Cutout bird signs labelled Bali Myna, Black-winged Myna and 98% in front of stacked birdcages, partly obscured by foliage.
Thatched wooden kiosk with an informational display board and coiled ropes, a woman in camouflage trousers walking past.
Outdoor conservation sign with red border reading We act for wildlife and South East Asia, standing among green shrubs.

Working with the team at Stride was a pleasure.

Although the project was fairly complex, they delivered both on budget and on time. They made great suggestions as to how we could improve some designs, and really made an effort to ensure our vision was brought to fruition. I’d have no hesitation in working with them again.

Fred Howat Senior Exhibitions and Interpretation Officer, Chester Zoo