Way Finding
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CONTENTS 5
Concept
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Bonington: The Brand
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Outer Signage
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Floor Plan
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Maps
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Colour Coding
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Course Index
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Stairs Coding
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Signs Posts
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Door Signs
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Sub Signage
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Route Scenario
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CONCEPT Bonington is the home of the School of Art and Design at Nottingham Trent University. A purpose-built centre for creativity, it contains state-of-the-art facilities, workshops and studios.
PROBLEMS Currently, the way finding system lacks innovation and cohesion. After researching the building, the main issues were: • • • • •
No hierarchy of information Departments are not differentiated Main areas lack signage Different staircases lead to specific areas on each level Maps are difficult to follow
SOLUTION My concept proposes a simplified, bold and colourful way finding system that reflects the creativity of an Art and Design School. The system will be formed of colours, signs, symbols and numbers to develop a visual language that is easy to follow. Signs will be stripped back and colour-coded to simplify the complex nature of the building. Information will be based on a hierarchy system, dependant upon each area and the context in which it will be viewed. It will be displayed when it is needed so as not to overwhelm or confuse users. Different users of the building will be taken into account students, staff and visitors - to develop a system that works for all.
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BONINGTON: FONTS Body
Futura Light Headings
Futura Medium (modified)
SHAPES
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THE BRAND COLOURS Core Palette
#ED1F24
#FBED21
#37C6F4
#F68A1E
#7960A9
#4BC0B5
Secondary Palette
#876A60
#FFF4CA
#2C3589
ICONS
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OUTER SIGNAGE
Bonington logo, based on the three primary colours with an overprint effect.
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FLOOR PLAN Fashion Decorative Arts (upper) Textiles (upper) Fashion Offices Decorative Arts Offices
Fine Art (MA) ICT Suites Photography Offices Moving Image Store Textiles Knitwear Fine Art (BA) Textile Workshops Administration Offices Print Bureau
Photography Decorative Arts (lower) 3D Workshops ICT Suites
ROOM NUMBERING Rooms are numbered in accordance to their floor level: • Level -1: room numbers -100 to -150 • Level 0: room numbers 001 - 050 • Level 1: room numbers 100 - 150 • Level 2: room numbers 200 - 250
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MAPS
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Levels are represented in map form using simple blocks, colour-coded shapes and icons. Each floor is broken up into North, South, East and West zones for easy navigation. These maps will be positioned in key locations around the building.
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A paper map is available at Reception.
The map uses a simple folding system to open and view information when and where it is needed.
The map is split into four sections, which each open to show a plan of the corresponding level. Each level can be viewed either on its own or with others open for reference. This folds back together into a compact, pocket-sized map.
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COLOUR-CODING Colour-coding will be applied to departments, to be translated across the whole way finding system. These will be bold colours - appropriate for an Art and Design School - and clearly visible from distance and recognisable to those who may have a visual impairment.
MAIN DEPARTMENTS
Knitwear
Fine Art
Decorative Arts
Fashion
Textiles
Photography
SUB-DEPARTMENTS
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Workshop
Office
ICT
Department icons are shortened to their initials to make them visually impactive, as well as allowing non-English speakers to identify them by their pictograms and colour. Icons will be placed at the main entrances to departments, backlit to maintain visibility in low-light situations.
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A course index will be displayed at the junction to the main foyer. This introduces the colour-coding system of the departments and gives instant reference as to what is in each category.
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STAIRS CODING To simplify the number of staircases and where they lead to, each staircase will be coded by shape. These can be referred to on maps to instantly see where they lead to. Stairs will also be used as a source of information to further clarify their destination. Heading upstairs, the front of the steps can be viewed, which are colour-coded by department to show where that particular staircase is leading to. Going downstairs, these signs will be translated on the ceilings of stairwells so they are visible from below.
STAIRCASE SHAPE-CODING
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SIGN POSTS Sign posts are shaped as boxes to match the geometric shapes used in the identity. They are represented in the bright theme colours for easy visibility. Sign posts would be positioned in large, open areas to provide an initial direction to follow.
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DOOR SIGNS Room names/numbers are displayed on labels affixed to doors. They are laser cut from plastic in their corresponding colour for a bright, clear sign.
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SUB SIGNAGE Additional signs are needed for more complex areas of the building to reaffirm directions. Hanging signs would be used in long corridors, easily seen from a distance, and wall signs would be used to give further information at complicated junctions.
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ROUTE SCENARIO The following storyboard demonstrates the Bonington Way Finding System in operation, showing how a user would navigate from the Main Entrance to the Photography Store.
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Enter through the Main Entrance.
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Hanging signs and maps direct you to the correct door.
Take a map at Reception and proceed to the Foyer.
Through the door, stair coding shows that you need to go downstairs to the Photography department.
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Reach the Foyer and read the sign post to find the correct way.
Further signs lead you to the Photography Store.
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Directed towards the Atrium, further sign posting directs you to the appropriate corridor.
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You reach the Photography Store, which is clearly labelled and colour-coded.
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