Masoala is an awe-inspiring forest, part of Madagascar's National Parks. While visitors come to see red-ruffed lemurs, panther chameleons, and other amazing wildlife, the forest has also been home to generations of Malagasy people.

Today, sustainable ecotourism is growing as a viable economic engine. The interpretive center and classroom create a destination and a home-base for conservation activities that play an increasing role in the lives of the people who live here. 

A boardwalk leads to the Interpretation Center, nestled in the marshes at the edge of the park. 

This "coming soon" sign offers a good overview of the project site. Initially, it helped set expectations for the scale of the planned spaces.   

The trilingual graphics for the interpretive center were designed as durable vinyl banners, that could be printed in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo. From there, the graphics had to be light enough not to exceed the weight limits for the small aircrafts we used to access the site at Maroantsetra. 

Once onsite, local seamstresses performed some final sewing and finishing for the banners.

A part of our project budget went to procuring cameras for members of a Conservation Club, a group for teenagers who live near the park. The Club shot many of the photos used in the graphics. 

A local craftsman was hired to create the touchable sculptures used at kid-height throughout the exhibit.

These sculptures were incorporated into the graphics on site. 

Fishing is a big part of local livelihoods. A local fisherman attaches a section of net to a graphic about sustainable fishing practices: It's sized to allow younger fish to escape, while still allowing bigger fish to be caught. 

The third space was dedicated to marine stories; the ocean plays such an important role in this story. Overhead, a translucent blue ceiling becomes a surprising backdrop for a whale, and adds a moment of surprising drama to the experience.