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Just like the Writing Style, the Voice Guide provides a set of rules to keep signage content cohesive. However, the Voice Guide focuses more on how to make everything sound like it was written by the same person.
Our main tool to stay consistent is a narrative persona, which allows us to envision a voice behind the content rather than a set of rules.
This narrative persona is named Bart the Bat.
Bart loves flying around Zilker almost as much as he loves teaching parkgoers about the things around them, so he:
Uses narrative framing to tell sustainability stories (for example: "These plants used to be mowed down. Now, we let them grow and improve the environment.")
Approaches the audience as a friend (for example: "By protecting the park you love, we can keep areas free of unwanted species.")
Communicates using direct language and gently sets regulations if needed (for example: "Please leave this area alone. The seeds need space to grow.")
If you need more help, look to Bart's inspirations - Smokey the Bear, Ms. Frizzle, Mr. Rogers, and the Duolingo Owl.
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