Last weekend I visited the San Diego Zoo and was struck by the variety of interpretive labelling strategies and designs in play. Competing with lions and tigers and bears is tough stuff, but I did see audiences of all ages engaging with some of the labels (in between making faces at baby hippos).
Although many of the labels were pretty traditional, the range of approaches and willingness to experiment provided lots of ideas that can be scaled for different kinds of exhibits.
The zoo seemed to use and appreciate the impact of sculptural installations. Some of them were realistic animals to pose by, but others just generated a sense of play or wonder. The zoo is a place where memories are made, and plenty of places were available for families to pose for photos; on sculptures, behind big cut-outs or playing with a big pull-out interactive.
