Overview
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is a one-of-a-kind zoo and botanical garden in Palm Desert, CA, focused on desert wildlife and conservation. It’s home to amazing animals like giraffes, cheetahs, and bighorn sheep—plus acres of beautiful desert plants. I’ve had the chance to work with their team to create content that’s fun, educational, and helps tell the story of why deserts matter.
My Role
As the Digital Content and Social Media Specialist at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, I create engaging digital experiences that connect with guests before they even step through the gates. I manage our social media presence across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok—developing strategy, writing captions, and producing original photo and video content in-house. I also support our website, help with graphic design projects as needed, and manage the digital marquees across the zoo. My role extends to updating both digital and printed maps and contributing to select advertising efforts, both online and in print.
Printed Maps
When redesigning The Living Desert’s print and digital maps, my goal was to create a more contemporary, user-friendly experience while better representing the vibrant life found in desert ecosystems. I introduced a refreshed color palette featuring emerald green, soft beige, and hints of pink. The deep green not only provides visual clarity and contrast—making pathways easier to follow—but also challenges the outdated notion that deserts are barren.
The previous map’s beige-heavy design blended with trails and garden paths, making navigation difficult. By shifting to a richer green, I aimed to reflect the vitality of the desert and convey its true nature as a thriving biome—home to thousands of species and covering nearly a third of Earth’s land surface.
In addition to the updated color scheme, I replaced the previous organic shapes with clean, grid-like sections. This structural change improves readability and helps guests easily locate key areas and amenities within the zoo.
Before
Redesign
Digital Maps
Digital Marquees
Printed Ads
