06 / MOBILE EXPERIENCE

DETROIT ZOO

A mobile visit companion and playful treasure hunt designed around the rhythms of a day at the zoo.

PROJECT SIGNAL / 06

MY SCOPEINDEPENDENT UX CONCEPTTEAMVISITORS, FAMILIES + ZOO STAKEHOLDERSTIMEFRAME2012

01 / THE PROBLEM

A zoo visit mixes planning, navigation, discovery, and family attention. A useful mobile product had to support the day without asking visitors to spend it looking at a screen.

02 / THE EVIDENCE

The concept considered two connected audiences: adults coordinating the visit and children motivated by curiosity, collection, and small moments of accomplishment.

03 / THE DECISION

Pair practical visit tools with a lightweight treasure hunt. The phone becomes a prompt to notice the physical environment, then gets out of the way.

04 / THE COLLABORATION

The work translated visitor needs into a multi-device concept, balancing institutional information, family logistics, and a child-friendly interaction model.

05 / THE OUTCOME

The result was a coherent experience concept spanning planning, wayfinding, animal discovery, and a playful mission structure for children.

06 / THE REFLECTION

The best mobile layer can send attention back into the world instead of competing with it.

PROJECT EVIDENCE3 ARTIFACTS

Detroit Zoo application screens across devices — 01 / The system connected pre-visit planning with an in-park mobile companion.

Detroit Zoo mobile experience screens — 02 / Wayfinding and discovery tools were designed for quick use during the visit.

Detroit Zoo treasure hunt concept — 03 / The treasure hunt turned the device into a prompt for physical exploration.

NEXT IMAGE PASS

The story is in place. These are the most useful original artifacts to bring in next.

MISSION FLOW

Five frames showing how a child discovers, completes, and remembers one treasure-hunt mission.