I recently read an article about the rebranding of Chester zoo by Manchester based agency ‘Music’. They have created a bespoke hand drawn font for the new identity in conjunction with illustrator Adam Hayes. There is a primary face in 4 weights for flexibility and a secondary face playfully incorporating animal themed quirks.

The playful vibe of the typograpghy echoes the nature of the zoo well. The palette is refreshing and vibrant. There is a delightful, fun and tactile quality to the overall look. It works particularly well coupled with the charming but slightly gauche illustration. The poster looks fit for any aspiring zoologist’s bedroom wall!

It reminded me of a campaign I had seen previously for a series of posters released to promote the ‘Kids Park Zoo’ in Dubai which show a snapshot of chatty dialogue between some of the animals. The illustration is charmingly childlike, mirrored by the hand written copy.