Bear Wood

Woodland habitat and mixed species exhibit at Bristol Zoo Project

  • Role: creative lead
  • Stakeholder: Bristol Zoological Society
  • Sectors: charity (conservation and education)
  • Deliverables: branded interpretation panels, wayfinding signage and theming graphics

Bear Wood is an exhibit at Bristol Zoo Project that takes visitors on a journey back in time when bears, wolves, lynx and wolverine roamed British Ancient Woodland. Visitors follow a 700m long, raised wooden walkway through the forest, where they learn more about woodland habitat and species conservation.

  • Branding
  • Design
  • Illustration
  • Infographics
  • Project planning
  • Wayfinding
Threedimensional interlocking cogwheels with projected digital graphics that read Destination 8000BC, This is a story about our woodland and Let's go on a journey back in time Interlocking species ID panels for wolverine and wolves showing animal facts, seasonal information and a note written on the chalkboard saying Our wolves are moving in soon Large-scale woodland calendar panel showing the behaviour and interdependence of woodland plants and animals throughout the seasons Interactive interpretation panels including a head-through bat-board called Cheers big ears and scales to compare the weight of wolverines, lynxes, wolves and bears
Examples of interactive interpretation and species ID signage on the Bear Wood walkway. Clockwork theming graphics developed in collaboration with Mangostone. Photograph of the interactive scales courtesy of N3 Display Graphics.

As creative lead I worked closely with the exhibit development manager and the education officer to develop a bespoke look and feel for the exhibit based on the main attraction brand. I then designed the interpretation panels, species IDs, wayfinding signage and theming graphics that populate the raised walkway. We developed additional theming graphics for the Time Chamber (the exhibit entrance point) in close collaboration with the fabrication studio Mangostone.

The look and feel is based on the element of time and the colours found in seasonal woodland. The modular interlocking signage allows for flexible combinations of information relevant for the time of year.

To ensure maximum durability in a forest environment, and to withstand eager guest interaction, all signage was printed on the reverse of 3mm anti-glare acrylic panels which were bonded to a 3mm aluminium composite and routered to shape. We tried and tested this approach together with N3 Display Graphics, the dedicated printers for the project.

Bear Wood is a firm favourite with visitors and received a lot of national media attention as it is the only zoological exhibit in the UK where bears and wolves share an enclosure.

  • Interlocking circular panels about the importance and the biodiversity of woodlands
  • Theming graphic of a root system on the floor around a tree that grows through the middle of the walkway
  • Jump point to AD 84 on the walkway with panels showing decrease of woodland cover to 20% and biodiversity loss
  • Close-ups of Little Bear the exhibit mascot that appears throughout the interpretation
  • Brilliant bark panel on the walkway bannister comparing types of trees using pictures of their bark
  • Wayfinding pointer that reads Continue your journey with an arrow pointing left to stairs and right to an accessible ramp
  • Informative panel about local conservation that reads Wildlife surveys, late nights, early mornings, eagle eyes and buckets of patience
  • Test print-outs to review proposed colour schemes on-site
  • Mockups of test designs to review the exhibit brand and panel sizings on-site