STL ZOO MAP
Creative Direction + Product Development + Copywriting
The Saint Louis Zoo’s STL ZOO MAP reimagines wayfinding for three million annual visitors, making it effortless to explore 90 acres and 600+ species. Built with cutting-edge open-source 3D web technology, this browser-based experience requires no app download – just a quick URL or QR code for instant access.
Visitors can search in six languages, receive turn-by-turn directions, and navigate in real time, all without relying on external APIs.
Instead, the system uses GPS signals and game-inspired “navmesh” algorithms for lightning-fast performance. Optimized to the size of a single 4K image, it runs seamlessly on devices as old as a Galaxy S8.
I led the creative team, including our art directors, UX designers and 3D technical artists, while collecting, organizing, and fact-checking tens of thousands of data points across six languages and the entire animal kingdom. I kept the team focused on usability and core requirements, ensuring the final experience was as intuitive as it was immersive. I also wrote all copy, crafting a voice that makes finding the bears (or the beers) as engaging as the Zoo itself.
