Chester Zoo - Digital Members Magazine
Chester Zoo is the most visited zoo in the UK, welcoming two million visitors every year! It’s also a major conservation and education charity committed to preventing extinction.
With over 150,000 members as part of the wider community, the zoo’s customer development team were keen to improve their engagement with this loyal following, finding new ways to bring exclusive news and features to this audience through reimagining their traditional printed magazine.
Previously, members had received the seasonal printed, Z magazine through the post. With their ambitious plans to become carbon net zero by 2030 and a grand plan to create a more immersive, interactive experience for members, the team came to us looking for a digital platform to take their member experience in a new direction.
Helping Chester Zoo Connect with Members
The new digital hub, Our Zoo, was created, allowing members to access seasonal updates from their mobile phone and bringing to life exclusive stories through bespoke video content and diaries. We worked across design, video production, copywriting, interactive games, illustration and animation to bring to life the vast amount of content and updates that are coming from the zoo and its conservation work across the world, out in the field.
Elinor Trigg Senior Customer Development Manager“It’s been brilliant working with Raw. We knew from our first meeting that they were a great fit for the project we were commissioning. They demonstrate professionalism, creativity and a genuine commitment to delivering a stand-out finished product."
Behind-the-scenes Video Content
A big part of each issue was producing video interviews with the animal keepers to get in-depth behind-the-scenes insights for members. From getting up close with tiger cubs to showcasing Heart fo Africa, our video production team, led by the talented Seb Hakim, delivered exceptional content.
Designing Interactive Games
Creating games and engaging content for younger audiences was also a massive update to the printed version, with a new interactive game created for each new release.
We collaborated with a different illustrator for each issue to give a fresh look and feel that sits alongside the Chester Zoo flagship branding. During the 13 issues, we worked with some incredible illustrators, including Owen Davey, Grave Helmer, Andrew Lyon, Cookie Moon and many others.
Elinor Trigg Senior Customer Development Manager"Raw are highly collaborative, actively seeking our input and incorporating our ideas into the design. It really feels like a partnership, with everyone working together to create a product that we are proud of and our members engage with.”
Our Expertise Working with Charities & Non-Profits
All in all, over 3.5 years, we produced 13 issues of Our Zoo. It's fair to say we had lots of fun working with conservation charity Chester Zoo, playing our role in the zoo's mission to Prevent Extinction.
