I designed and oversaw the application of several vehicle graphics for our unique programs and for general use vehicles. All the vehicles were designed to function as "moving billboards" as they move throughout the metroplex by highlighting the amazing animals that guests can experience through the Dallas Zoo. During the design process matters like longevity, relevance, and possible future repairs were taken into consideration, resulting in different levels of detail in the graphics.
These projects began with an exploration of what other zoos were doing with vehicle wraps, and establishing how we could stand out and what message we wanted to send. The biggest thing we discovered was that many graphics felt cluttered and overwhelming. I then created a mood board, and with the help of my team we found that those vehicles with a large singular focus and prominent logo were the most compelling. The last step before beginning the design process was to acquire an accurate vehicle template so that we could design according to the shapes and planes of the vehicle.
The first vehicles we wrapped were for the Animal Adventures team. The Animal Adventures program allows people and organizations to schedule a 45-minute educational presentation featuring about six animals from around the world, including birds, mammals, and reptiles at a location off Zoo grounds.
The vehicle graphics were designed with several purposes and factors in mind. First, they help make the vehicle recognizable when it arrives on site for educational presentations, aiding coordination. Second, they serve as advertising for the program as the van drives through the metroplex and is parked at locations outside the Zoo. Finally, the simple designs allow the graphics to be more easily repaired if damaged during standard wear and tear on a vehicle, and the equipment that would be regularly moved in and around the van. To counteract the need for simplistic designs, we used large, clear photos of some animals that the Animal Adventures program may bring to a presentation, creating a sense of wonder and curiosity about the animals and program.
These graphics won a Gold Hermes Award in 2025.
The next set of vehicle graphics we produced were for our general use fleet vehicles in 2025. For these vehicles, we created a template system where the two sides of the vehicles mirror each other, and the back of the vehicle blends the two sides together seamlessly and provides contact information. We also added a Dallas Zoo icon to the front hood of the vehicle so there is still branding visible for those who may be driving in front of the vehicles. In order to help move the design process along faster in the future we also developed a basic image library with images we can pull from in the future. With these strategic choices it will be easier for us to produce similar graphics for new vehicles and create a consistent look and feel across the fleet, while bringing the wild of the Zoo to the urban streets of DFW.
The latest vehicle we designed was for the Dallas Zoo browse program. This program travels the metroplex gathering tree limbs and foliage that is safe for the herbivores at the Zoo to eat, so that there is less waste and lowers the expenses of the Zoo in purchasing food. The team wanted to strongly highlight the program and that it benefits several species that call the Zoo home. This led us to slightly modify the template that we had made, but the template served as our starting point for the process. We ended up completely removing all images from the back of the vehicle so that the program name and contact details would be more visible. The team has already reported that having a branded vehicle as they travel the city has increased the number of people inquiring about the program and how they can contribute, sending a clear message that vehicles can communicate!
VP of Marking and Communication: Kari Streiber
Project Manager: Courtney Wallover
Creative Design Manager: Sean Fowler
Graphic Designer: Kristina Edwards
