Exhibit Design Internship

Hello! It's been awhile so I'm here today to show and tell you all about my adventures this summer as the Exhibit Design Intern for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

The main goal of exhibit design is to enhance the viewers' and animals' experiences. As an intern, I did everything from painting food shelters, painting fences, designing educational interactive displays, to lion proofing an airplane.

Here are some images of projects that Lauren Zimmer, the other intern, and I completed this summer:

           

Here is my final independent project:

 I remember going to the Phoenix Zoo as a little kid ALL THE TIME. I loved it. As I grew older, it was less about the thrill of seeing something new, but also this sense of adventure and knowledge that was paired with it.

What I love most about the Columbus Zoo is that they're dedicated to conservation. They take care of the animals both in capativity and out. They're looking out for their future. I wanted to create an educational board that visualized the impact of humans on animals in North America, either good or bad. I find that visual representations of numbers help the number become more real and tangible.

I thought what better than trying to make people care about our own backyard, North America!? I had plans for all different types of ways this could be implemented. Perhaps a color coded 3-D map, a size comparison chart of the animals and the average child, or a larger area dedicated to conservation in North America with all of the ideas? I wanted to make an educational and fun interactive piece.

And I made a fun educational, fun and interactive piece, only it was for the newly opened Heart of Africa exhibit. Even better, it was a track and scat identification board. Can you imagine being a child and getting to touch ((fake) lion poo!? How fun!

Overall, this summer was a great experience and I loved going to work everyday. The people (and animals) were great! I learned new skills and sharpened up old ones. I'm so thankful for this opportunity.