Rave London Zoo Wayfinding: February 2008

Friday, 29 February 2008

Maps

The above free map and map you got when you bought a guide.

Children's Quiz

The Children's Quiz looks more like an exam than a fun filled activity

The first tunnel was livened up with cave style paintings, making it a little less man made and jarring. And as the first walkway into the zoo along the recommended route it prepares the person for the Into Africa exhibit they are about to approach.

Thursday, 28 February 2008

Into Africa

While it had its flaws, it was quite eye catching and 'fun' looking. I liked the way the animal shapes were painted onto the fencing. Giving a clue of what was in there with out saying it in text. It also livened up the dull wooden pole fencing that is seen throughout the park. Perhaps the whole Zoo could do with being livened up in this sort of way. By painting on walls, fences, tunnels etc to cover up all the man made elements and make it more natural looking.

While the oil drums kept it fun, colourful and eyecatching, it simply took a group of people in peak time to stand near it and then no one would be able to see it.

Also there were no pictograms or way of knowing what the animals were for a small child couldn't read yet, or a foreign tourist, until you had reached the enclosure.

The signs are painted bits of wood, and while eyecatching, it is more natural and fitting with the safari type feel, than a metal man made style sign.

Animals moved

Doesn't look like a Zebra to me..

Signage

While the other signage was quite dull, this type of signage was possibly more exciting for the kids, and it could be easily seen in which direction you should go for the giraffes.

A moment in the life of a giraffe!

This is a fun way of making children experiment with the mirrors and seeing how life might be for a giraffe!!

Active learning in the zoo

Here is a great example of active learning. The kids are encouraged to behave like a monkey while walking through the enclosure so they are learning without knowing it!

A childs experience of the zoo

This interactive exhibit is at the end of the reptile house. Each section allows you to touch the skin of the reptile to get an idea of the feel, and each have an example of its skeletal system. The bright colours draw you over to them and the brief, simple text is refreshing for all age of child.

Maps!

Worst zoo map ever!

Map has clear thick blue line for people to follow. Unlike the confusing green line in London zoo

Butterfly

This is a close up of the butterfly giving the children something to look for which is a good way of capturing their attention.

A childs experience in the zoo

We really like the interactive exhibit within the bugs encounter, although we thought there was a little too much writing for a child to pay attention to. We loved the idea of having these small yellow shapes of some animals with a question inside and felt that this would encourage a child to pay much more attention to the exhibit.