California Academy of Science
Twilight Zone
Deep Reef Revealed
Between the light-filled shallows and the darkest depths of the sea, extreme explorers are discovering diverse and little-known coral reef frontiers that perhaps hold secrets to reef survival.
The original exhibit design in 2015 was inspired by the topography and organisms of deep reef habitats. Bright accents like darting fish and swaying corals pop out of the inky fields of this otherworldly environment.
In 2023 work began to evaluate and redesign outdated interpretive panels, solve glare issues, and refresh interactives.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Project Size: 3,000sf
Start Date: 2015, Opening, 2016, Design Updates 2024
Awards: Association of Zoos and Aquariums Exhibit Innovation Award
Role: Lead Exhibit Designer
Process Highlights:
• Transformation of a dark, underused area of the aquarium
• Renovation of interactive concepts and prototyping
• Tank refurbishment with husbandry and operations teams
The entry wall combines sculpted rockwork, touchable models, projection, graphics, and dynamic lighting to create a dramatic context for Twilight Zone stories.
Bathymetric maps inspired mural motifs that were hand-painted throughout the gallery.
UV paints and inks bring visual interest to the very low-light flashlight fish corner. Carefully studied partition placement and the use of light boxes instead of overhead lighting reduce the overall glare on existing tanks which have relatively low internal light levels.
Exhibits explore the mesophotic zone: live tanks, physical and digital interactives, objects, and soundscapes immerse visitors in the richness of this mysterious environment.
The focus shifts from dwellers of the deep to human explorers and what it takes to dive over 100 feet below the surface of the ocean.
One of the many mock-up sessions to update the existing entry wall.
