toledo zoo barnyard exhibit illustrations
Toledo Zoo
Rustic Barnyard Exhibit Illustrations
The Toledo Zoo introduced a new barnyard-style exhibit where guests can interact with a variety of animals in a hands-on, educational environment. To support the launch, they needed a set of custom illustrations that would reflect the rustic charm of the space while enhancing both signage and promotional materials.
Project Overview
This project focused on creating a cohesive series of animal illustrations that could live seamlessly within the physical environment of the exhibit.
Each illustration was designed to represent a specific animal featured in the barnyard experience—including alpacas, sheep, goats, Mangalitsa pigs, and heritage chicken breeds—while maintaining a consistent, recognizable style across all assets.
Design Approach
The illustration style draws from rustic, hand-rendered linework, using cross-hatching techniques to create texture, depth, and a sense of craftsmanship.
This approach reinforces the barnyard aesthetic of the exhibit while giving each animal a distinct personality. The limited, monochromatic style ensures the illustrations remain highly legible and adaptable across signage, print materials, and environmental graphics.
Each animal was carefully illustrated to balance realism with character—making the visuals both educational and engaging for a wide range of visitors.
Services:
Custom animal illustrations for exhibit
Cross-hatch linework illustration style development
Asset creation for signage and promotional use
Consistent visual system across multiple species
Results / Impact
The final illustration system:
Enhances the overall guest experience through cohesive visual storytelling
Supports educational engagement with clear, recognizable animal imagery
Integrates seamlessly into exhibit signage and promotional materials
Reinforces the rustic, hands-on nature of the barnyard environment
Provides reusable assets for future marketing and exhibit needs
Need custom illustrations for an exhibit, attraction, or public space?
I create illustration systems designed for real-world environments—helping organizations engage visitors, communicate clearly, and bring spaces to life through thoughtful visual design.