New BART Passengers: Blue Tongued Skinks, Chinchillas and Hedgehogs

Aquarium of the Bay Unveils New Campaign Created by Academy of Art University’s School of Advertising

SAN FRANCISCO, June 8 /PRNewswire/ – Aquarium of the Bay’s new Blue Tongued Skinks, Chinchillas and African Pygmy Hedgehogs are invading BART stations and trains today, thanks to an innovative advertising campaign by Academy of Art University students. Created by student copywriter Frank Wortham and art director Yen Kelly, the “City Animals” designs were part of an Aquarium-sponsored competition amongst the University’s School of Advertising.

“We challenged the students to take unique routes in developing an advertising campaign for Aquarium of the Bay’s first-ever land animal exhibit,” said Michele Bernhardt, Communications Director for Aquarium of the Bay. “We wanted something edgy, and the Academy of Art University teams absolutely delivered, leaving our team with the most difficult task – selecting a winner.”

“Our students understand the demands of real-world marketing objectives, and know how to translate them into ads that click with consumers while still meeting business needs,” said Melinda Mettler, Director of the School of Advertising. “Opportunities such as this allow us to make a contribution to area businesses, by showing off our skills.”

Wortham and Kelly, along with runner-ups Taiyo Kitagawa and Josephine Ng, each received a $500 scholarship. The billboards will appear in the Embarcadero, Powell Street, Lake Merritt, MacArthur, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, El Cerrito, Castro Valley, Dublin and Fremont stations and in trains throughout the BART service.

More than 40 students participated in the competition to help bring the Aquarium’s new PG&E Bay Lab to larger-than-life size. PG&E Bay Lab features land animals as nature’s ambassadors, promoting energy conservation to protect their habitats from the potential impact of climate change. The exhibit is sponsored by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Octopuses and Jellies are the stars of two other new Aquarium exhibits.

About Aquarium of the Bay

Aquarium of the Bay is a unique nature center dedicated to creating experiences that inspire conservation of the San Francisco Bay and all marine environments. It is the only aquarium focused specifically on the aquatic life and ecosystems of the Bay and nearby waters. The Aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and certified as a Green Business by the city of San Francisco. Learn more at www.aquariumofthebay.com.

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SOURCE Aquarium of the Bay