The kyoto ddd gallery is showing “Design ZOO—Life meets design” , which is centered on a graphic design project as part of the Department of Design at Kyoto Saga University of Arts.
A zoo is a window on nature. It functions as an educational place where people encounter nature and have the opportunity to study and consider it. A zoo also speaks to the culture of a country and is a place where children are able to get a thorough environmental education of the highest standard. The zoo is a resource-rich visual field for building an environmental education from the bottom up. This exhibition introduces novel, approachable design linked to real-world experience through the expertise of Yasuko Ikeda, a professor at Kyoto Saga University of Arts who has been involved in design at multiple zoos and botanical gardens.
The university project “Design ZOO” has culminated in this exhibition at the kyoto ddd gallery with such works as a symbolic tree inspired by Kyoto City Zoo that teaches about biodiversity conservation; a kaleidoscope filled with elements derived from plant and animal sources to use while walking around the gallery; trick visuals that spark interest in animals; signs with life-sized animals that seem to leap out at the viewer; dioramas that show animals’ natural habitats; and a game that explains ecosystems.
Lastly, we would like to thank many people—Professor Masao Oomori, Professor Yasuko Ikeda, and Associate Professor Osamu Takeuchi of Kyoto Saga University of Arts as well as the sophomores and juniors at the university whose works make up part of this exhibition, and the many individuals who assisted with this project including those involved with Kyoto City Zoo. Our hope is for this exhibition to encourage people to engage with and see the possibilities of graphic design, not only for zoos, but also for children’s museums.