The European Mink Trail: Interaction Design for Species Conservation and Awareness

This thesis explores how interaction design can help cultivate empathy and raise awareness for endangered species, using the European mink and Tallinn Zoo’s breeding program as a case study. The project focused on families and the youth visiting the zoo, groups identified as both under-informed and highly receptive to playful, experiential learning. These audiences were selected due to their emotional openness and long-term role in shaping public attitudes and policies related to conservation. The future decision makers.

To address the species’ current low visibility and the lack of public awareness, two complementary design solutions were developed: a physical nestbox inviting tactile and visual interaction, and a digital treasure hunt accessible via QR codes placed around the zoo. The goal was to create meaningful, memorable encounters with an otherwise unseen species, nurturing a sense of empathy that could spark curiosity, dialogue, and future action.

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The project offers value by enabling zoo visitors to emotionally connect with the invisible European mink through story-driven interaction. It provides the breeding program with new tools for public outreach while contributing to the broader field of sustainable interaction design. The desired impact is to make the European mink more visible in the public’s eye and to empower future generations to care, advocate, and act on behalf of endangered species.

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