The Southern Ground Hornbill is well-known throughout it’s range as the “Thunder Bird” — it’s booming calls or presence is seen by some cultures as a portent of seasonal rains. A pair of these charismatic birds resides at my local zoo, and the ID graphic (pictured) was begging for a redesign. A few observations: the map is small and difficult to understand (even with a giant yellow arrow); there’s too much red; the copy is boring (“They Live”, “They Are”, “They Eat”); there’s quite a lot of wasted space; and not enough interesting info about this fascinating bird. Also, the headshot photo shows a male but the caption describes a female).
In my version, the map is central to the composition of this layout, as it is central to these birds’ existence! So I made Africa large, which it is, allowing the viewer to appreciate this species’ vast range. I used a full-body photo of the bird because it is also large, actually the heaviest and largest hornbill species in the world. Having the bird walking on a grassy with a sandy, dusty background helps the viewer imagine the thorny savannas and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa.
My redesign is merely a concept, but it is always fun exploring how, when made with care, a zoo sign can be worth more than just a passing glance.