Ocean Art Lantern brand mark

Ocean Art Lantern

Houston, Texas · 2025

2025 Houston Zoo Lights

We created and produced the lantern installations for the 2025 edition of TXU Energy presents Zoo Lights at Houston Zoo, shaping animal-led scenes and route-scale illuminated moments for the zoo’s after-dark setting.

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Project overview

A zoo setting shaped the creative brief

Zoo lantern route concept showing animal-themed zones around a wide wooded loop
A route brief can separate animal themes, viewing pockets and transition zones before design development begins.

For the 2025 season, Houston Zoo presented TXU Energy presents Zoo Lights from November 21 through January 4. Ocean Art Lantern created and produced the lantern installations for this completed project.

The venue called for visual moments that could read clearly along visitor paths while remaining connected to wooded surroundings and an existing night-time attraction. We developed an animal-led lantern direction supported by illuminated scenery and route-scale compositions.

Our work

From animal themes to a route-ready lantern presentation

Our scope centered on creating and producing the lantern installations. The project connected recognizable animal subjects with supporting scenery and visual transitions suited to an after-dark zoo route.

01

What we created

Elephant, antelope and bird lantern group arranged as a zoo destination scene
A strong animal centerpiece can be supported by smaller species and botanical forms to create a complete themed zone.

Animal lanterns and illuminated scenic elements formed recognizable destination moments, with larger subjects supported by color, foliage and smaller light details.

02

Design and production approach

Modular animal lantern forms showing steel frames, lighting integration and finished silk surfaces
Planning the frame, lighting and surface layers as coordinated modules supports clearer production and packing decisions.

We developed layered compositions in which form, color and internal illumination could remain readable at different viewing distances and within a varied night setting.

03

Working with the zoo route

Animal lantern displays positioned along a wide wooded path beside a water edge
Path width, existing trees, water edges and changing sightlines shape where each lantern group can work best.

The lantern designs needed to hold their presence beside trees, water edges, existing route lighting and changing sightlines as visitors moved through the venue.

Completed project gallery

Lantern installations in the Houston Zoo setting

The completed project shows animal subjects, illuminated landscape elements and route-scale lighting working together across different parts of the zoo experience.

Illuminated zebra, flamingo and floral lanterns in the wooded 2025 Houston Zoo Lights route
Animal lanterns and supporting floral light forms created a bright destination scene within the wooded route.
Visitors following an illuminated water-edge path at the 2025 Houston Zoo Lights project
Visitors moved through a water-edge path framed by overhead lighting and illuminated landscape elements.
Blue-lit zoo path with geometric animal forms in the completed 2025 Houston Zoo Lights project
Blue-lit trees and geometric animal forms extended the visual rhythm along a wider walkway.

Event references: Houston Zoo 2025 Holiday Gift Guide · Houston Zoo 2025 video 1 · Houston Zoo 2025 video 2

Experience for future zoo and venue projects

Use the Houston project as a planning reference

This completed project illustrates why a useful venue brief connects theme, path visibility, viewing distance, existing landscape and local operating constraints. Share your route, target season and animal direction, and we can discuss how to shape the lantern scope for your setting.

Zoo lantern viewing zone with animal landmarks, open circulation and surrounding landscape
A venue brief should connect focal points, circulation, viewing space and local site responsibilities.
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