Atomicdust Goes Hands-on for Saint Louis Zoo Annual Report
For many of us here at Atomicdust, the Saint Louis Zoo is one of our favorite places in the city. That’s why we were honored to work on their 2013 annual report. But what can you say about this place we all feel so close to already? What untold stories hide on these 90 acres in the heart of the city?
We set out one morning to find out. And as we walked around the Zoo, we were instantly struck by the activity all around us, and how critical every employee is in shaping the Zoo experience. From education to entertainment and animal care to worldwide conservation, it’s all hands on deck.
This was the inspiration for the theme for the annual report, Shaping the world.
We wanted to show how, while the Zoo’s impact reaches far beyond Forest Park, it’s the one place where employees, donors and visitors alike come together: to learn, to enjoy the animals – and yes, to ride the train.
This led us to tell the story of the Zoo’s 2013 milestones in a bold, new way: with words, of course, but also through handcrafted textures and visuals. And many cases, even with literal hands.
Each scene was created and photographed in house with construction paper, toys and imagination. No camera tricks here. Our goal? We wanted to avoid the expected slate of full-frame animal photos and, in turn, bring people closer to the Zoo experience.
It was a thrill to learn the stories behind the Zoo’s most recent projects, and to get a glimpse of what’s in the future for this inspiring St. Louis institution.
