A collaboration between the Florida State University College of Fine Arts and the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. I was part of a cohort of students that designed and built enrichment toys for various species at the zoo, and I focused on seven individual reticulated giraffes.

Because all of the giraffes at the Jacksonville Zoo were raised primarily in captivity, they do not forage for food as wild giraffes do, which has caused muscular deficiencies that take the form of rapid, involuntary tongue spasms. My goal was to design and fabricate a feeder that challenges the giraffes to mimic natural foraging techniques, requiring them to conduct gripping and pulling motions with their tongues in order to target and strengthen these muscles.

Design and fabrication work was done in alignment with guidelines provided by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, with frequent consultation from zoo staff as well as Cailigh MacDonald, Associate Director of Design at the New England Aquarium.

2025