Edinburgh Zoo has unveiled its new responsive website created by digital communications agency Rippleffect.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) appointed the agency last year with a remit to create a multi-channel strategy for inspiring and engaging new and returning visitors to the Zoo.
The website represents the first phase of the strategy, with a cross-platform mobile app due to launch this spring.
The new platform is fully responsive, meaning the Zoo’s wide variety of content naturally degrades depending on the size of the visitor’s screen to offer a fun and user-friendly experience across any device. Features include a full animal glossary, a range of rich media content about key animals and rare insights into zoo life with ’Meet the Keeper’ stories.
Meanwhile, the Zoo’s new mobile app – which will be available for Apple and Android smartphones – will incorporate an interactive map with real-time location tracking, a day planner for events and the Exploration Quiz, which lets users test their knowledge of the animals as they go.
The Zoo’s popular live webcams for visitor favourites – including penguins and pandas – have been integrated into both the site and the app.
”We are delighted with our new website and believe that it will not only help to entice new visitors but also provide a great resource for members of the public to engage with and learn more about our animals.” commented RZSS digital manager Jon-Paul Orsi.
”As well as being a great showcase for our digital content, there are now opportunities for visitors to share their own content through integrated social media channels. The new site will make it easier to discover more about the zoo and our conservation work, and make a physical visit the natural next step”
Hayden Evans, creative director of Rippleffect, added: ”Our aim was to create an engaging and user-friendly platform that would capture the hearts and minds of Edinburgh Zoo’s visitors.
”We incorporated modern design and free-flowing architecture on fully responsive templates to ensure the platform offers the ideal experience on every device, including mobile and tablets. Exciting new features have been added too, including the dedicated kids’ zone and a full events calendar that features integrated user-friendly online booking.”
Discussing the legacy of the project, Orsi said: ”The Rippleffect team has done a great job in understanding the needs of our audience and has delivered two digital platforms that will help our audience get more from their Edinburgh Zoo experience – before, during and after their visit.”
Submitted by Keith Price
