What comes to mind when you think of a graphic designer? Maybe you see someone sitting at a computer playing with fonts, or maybe you think of someone using Photoshop to make pictures look more appealing. However, graphic design is much more than letters, numbers and shapes. It’s more like a science with the goal of communicating an idea in a creative way, and the Akron Zoo is the perfect habitat for a graphic designer to flex their creative muscles. 

I joined the Akron Zoo as the first in-house graphic designer in February of 2020, right before the beginning of a world-wide pandemic. In the last year and a half, I’ve often been stretched creatively, and I’ve learned to adapt to many different situations. 

An exciting aspect of my job is that I get to work with a variety of departments that make up our zoo. In any given day, I could be designing signage for new habitats for animal care, creating a new billboard for our marketing team, drawing a new event logo for our events team, working on print material to help improve our guest experience for guest services, or even creating mailing pieces for our development team. I have to be versatile and flexible. 

Since joining the Akron Zoo team, one of my favorite projects was our advertising campaign for Lehner Family Foundation Wild Asia. My goal was to utilize the charisma of the white-cheeked gibbon, the charm of the red panda, and the ferocity of the Sumatran tiger to promote this amazing new area of our zoo. I was able to create a visually impactful message with print advertising, social media marketing and billboards. 

Being a graphic designer at the Akron Zoo is an amazing opportunity. I’m able to see my ideas come to life. Every day is different from the last, with new projects that help me refine my skills as an artist and pave the way for my career. I get to work with exciting people and beautiful animals. It’s an honor and privilege to be able to contribute to the Zoo’s mission to make the world a better place.