Retained in 1973 to create a Way-finding System for the new Master Plan developed for the National Zoo. The 163 acre Olmsted designed Park was being upgraded to provide more natural habitats for the animals.

Thirty six pictograms of featured animals are utilized on a variety of items including Totems, Maps, Posters and other Merchandise.

The notion to identify trails with TOTEM like structures provided a base for color coded visual information relative to the features of that trail.  A major symbol identified each Trail - CRANE, ZEBRA, ELEPHANT, POLAR BEAR, LION, DUCK.

The upper portion of

the TOTEM displays

pictograms of animal

exhibits along that trail.

Existing signage at the Zoo was varied, inconsistent and numbered in the hundreds.

The Zoo Master Plan

showing the proposed

main artery.

Dedicating the main artery as Olmsted Walk, six trails were plotted to cover specific areas and animals.  This gave the visitor 6 options.  Each Trail started and ended back on Olmsted Walk.

To identify the 6 Trails,

12 TOTEMS were placed on Olmsted Walk to mark their entry. Pictograms provided non-verbal information of the animals featured on that Trail.

The lower TOTEM panels displayed information on the animals on that Trail, a Trail Map, Services on the Trail and the Trailblazer symbol.

Working with the Zoo Director, The Fine Arts Commission and Architect, the concept focused on establishing a major walkway thru the Zoo from which a series of individual trails would take the visitor past all the major animal exhibits in the Park.

A scale model of the

ZOO entrance sign.

A full scale foam-core mock-up of the TOTEM structure was evaluated in Central Park during concept development.

The re-designed trash receptacles (150) served a dual-purpose, displaying directionals for all related services available throughout the ZOO.

The Trail information panel included a Trailblazer pictogram, name of the Trail, the animals, the length of the trail and the estimated time to walk it. 

Pictograms were implemented on a variety of items including posters, banners buttons, jewelry, and food service items.

Six color coded TOTEMS mark the beginning of each Trail.  Two of each were produced to mark the the Trails beginning or end.

Modular precast TOTEM assembly

drawing.

Trailblazers are spaced along

each Trail pathway and lead visitors to the specific exhibits and back to Olmsted Walk.

The ZOO entrance sign.

Taking a hint

from nature,

the Trailblazer pictograms were developed for each featured

Trail animal.

A custom font, based on the TOTEM design, was developed for all ZOO graphics. 

Color-coded Directory Maps use Pictograms &

Trailblazers to minimize text and encourage their

use by children.

Free -standing Directory Maps were located at the

ZOO’s two entrances and at four strategic points within the ZOO.

Trailblazers were designed for each

of the 6 featured

Trail animals based on their

paw prints.

THE PICTOGRAMS

THE TOTEMS

THE TRAILBLAZERS

THE TRAILS

CONCLUSION

The final Way-finding System for the National Zoo was accomplished with 2 Entry Signs, 6 Directory Maps and 12 Totems.

Supported by Trailblazers and Service Symbols, this system replaced hundreds of signs that had littered the landscape before.

THE DIRECTORIES

THE SYMBOL

A symbol developed for

the Zoo combined the

Eagle and its chick representing the  “continuation of the species.”

This design approach allowed the Zoo experience to be segmented into a series of family visits rather than the exhaustive

“Do it all at once” option.

Design: Wyman & Cannan - Bill Cannan - Lance. Wyman - Tucker Viemeister - Brian Flahive  - Tom Demonse - Dennis O’Brien

Jose Luis Ortiz Tellez - Ernesto Lehfeld Miller - Francisco Gallardo

Client: National Zoo  - Dr. Theodore. Reed - Edward Cohen

Awards - National Endowment of the Arts / Published - Smithsonian Magazine / Print Casebooks  / CA magazine / Washington Post

contact: Bill Cannan / bcnco@optonline.net

home