2024 Wayfinding Experience
Salt Lake City International Airport
LOCATION
Salt Lake City, UT
SERVICES
Signage & Wayfinding
Naming & Numbering System
HOK’s Experience Design (EXD) group partnered with Salt Lake City International Airport to create an intuitive wayfinding system for the first entirely new U.S. airport of the 21st century. Designed to enhance traveler experience, the system integrates seamlessly with the airport’s architecture, art, and brand identity, ensuring clear, easy navigation across terminals, concourses, parking, and utility areas.
The scalable design balances premium materials for public spaces with cost-efficient solutions for operational zones, providing flexibility for future upgrades. Delivered on time and within budget, the phased installation minimized disruptions, establishing a repeatable, efficient wayfinding standard for use in airports nationwide.
Barney Allis Plaza
Kansas City, MO
Wayfinding & Signage Placemaking
Identity & Logo Design
Barney Allis Plaza is being transformed into a vibrant, world-class destination, blending arts-focused greenspaces with versatile areas for both intimate gatherings and large-scale events. Positioned in the heart of downtown, the plaza is set to become a defining first impression for visitors—ready just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
EXD plays a critical role in crafting a seamless and engaging visitor experience through an innovative approach to wayfinding, signage, and placemaking. Drawing inspiration from Kansas City’s unique position at the convergence of rivers and cultures, we created a cohesive design system that unites the city’s signature colors—red and blue—into a distinctive purple, flowing throughout the plaza and parking garage.
Portland International Airport
LOCATION
Portland, OR
SERVICES
Signage & Wayfinding
Masterplanning
EXD developed a comprehensive signage master plan for Portland International Airport (PDX) to ensure a seamless and unified wayfinding system across terminals, concourses, and touchpoints. This long-term strategy addressed the phased integration of signage throughout ongoing construction while setting new design standards for a modern, accessible, and interactive wayfinding experience. The plan emphasized functionality, flexibility, and inclusivity, ensuring clear navigation for all travelers, including aging populations, while aligning with future airport technologies.
Designed with an eye toward sustainability and efficiency, the signage standards balanced aesthetics with practicality, incorporating modular elements for easy updates and maintenance. The strategy not only ensures seamless navigation but also reinforces the PDX brand, leaving travelers with a positive, memorable experience that reflects the airport’s dedication to innovation, accessibility, and exceptional service.
As PDX undertook several large capital projects, EXD crafted comprehensive Signage Design Standards to guide a cohesive, long-term wayfinding strategy. These standards address the removal, relocation, and integration of both new and temporary signage, emphasizing interactivity, flexibility, and modularity while incorporating the latest emerging technologies.
Monterey Regional Airport
LOCATION
Monterey, CA
SERVICES
Naming & Numbering System
Signage & Wayfinding
EXD developed a comprehensive signage and wayfinding system for Monterey Regional Airport, creating an intuitive and locally inspired experience for visitors. The team integrated natural design elements reflecting the beauty and culture of Monterey, with a hospitality-focused approach to enhance the traveler journey. Both static and digital signage were strategically placed to improve navigation, supplemented by mobile wayfinding solutions for seamless, real-time guidance.
Shuttles
EXD implemented clear typographic standards, ensuring accessibility with ADA-compliant signage and high legibility using Gotham fonts. The project covered the full passenger journey, from parking and check-in to baggage claim and exit, with signage tailored to each touchpoint. Careful attention was given to material selection, incorporating wood accents and metal structures for durability and aesthetics. The result was a cohesive wayfinding system that balanced functionality and artistry, providing a seamless travel experience and laying the foundation for future expansions and digital enhancements.
Painted brake-formed metal panel with vinyl messaging applied to face mechanically fastened to wood sign base
“Found” wood sign base
RESTROOM
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
LOCATION
Palo Alto, CA
SERVICES
Signage & Wayfinding
Naming & Numbering System
EXD delivered a user-centered wayfinding system for VA Palo Alto Health Care, aligned with its Veteran-focused model of care. Designed to streamline navigation, signage was strategically placed at key touchpoints—such as elevator cores and vertical circulation areas—ensuring an effortless experience for all visitors.
More than just functional, the signage was elevated with sleek, backlit panels that blend seamlessly with the center’s modern interiors, adding a layer of sophistication and visual cohesion. The entrance sets the tone with a memorial plaza and an art wall that pay tribute to Veterans and their service, reinforcing a welcoming and purposeful atmosphere from the moment visitors arrive.
Crown Center Redevelopment Corp.
LOCATION
Kansas City, MO
SERVICES
Placemaking
Signage & Wayfinding
EXD developed a comprehensive wayfinding strategy for Crown Center in Kansas City, aimed at transforming the complex from a convoluted space into one that would offer a seamless and intuitive user experience. The proposed plan utilized journey mapping to anticipate how different user groups would navigate the space, ensuring that all potential use cases were addressed. The strategy included a color-coded parking system to enhance accessibility and clarity, and recommended replacing temporary signage with permanent, static solutions wherever possible.
The Francis Crick Institute
LOCATION
London, UK
SERVICES
Placemaking
Signage & Wayfinding
The Francis Crick Institute is one of Europe’s largest biomedical research centers, bringing together 1,500 of the brightest minds from six leading organizations to solve the world’s toughest scientific challenges. With 120 labs spread across four interconnected neighborhoods on 12 levels, the Crick eliminates traditional departments and barriers, fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.
The institute’s wayfinding system aligns with its innovative layout, using compass coordinates inspired by London’s postal codes. Each floor is distinguished by a unique color, making navigation easy and intuitive for both researchers and visitors.
Located at the heart of London’s scientific community, the Crick is designed to spark interaction and ideas. Colorful breakout spaces on every floor promote spontaneous meetings, and the open, transparent design ensures the space is accessible to the public, even outside of scheduled events. The result is a dynamic environment where collaboration thrives and breakthroughs happen.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
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The new wing-shaped extension of Terminal 5 is the first major expansion since the terminal’s opening in 1993. This project marks a pivotal step in the O’Hare 21 initiative to modernize one of the
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expansion by housing all the
EXD created the design and implementation of the terminal’s signage and wayfinding system. Our team delivered an innovative, adaptable solution by integrating digital signage directly into the terminal’s air columns—key architectural elements that regulate temperature and airflow. This design consolidates multiple sign functions, including gate identifiers, boarding information, arrival and departure updates, and dynamic advertisements, all within a single, updateable interface.
Through this seamless integration, EXD not only enhanced the terminal’s visual identity but also improved operational efficiency and traveler experience. With intuitive wayfinding and flexible digital infrastructure, we’ve ensured that Terminal 5 will meet the evolving needs of both passengers and airport staff—well into the future. 00
Humber Meadows Long-Term Care Home
LOCATION
Toronto, ON
SERVICES
Experiential Graphics
Signage & Wayfinding
EXD crafted the wayfinding and environmental graphics for Humber Meadows Long-term Care Home, strategically addressing the needs of residents with memory challenges and language barriers. Drawing on the metaphor of a meadow, EXD developed a cohesive, nature-inspired design to create an intuitive navigation system that simplifies wayfinding. Each residential floor features a distinct identity, with a color palette and graphic elements reflecting different natural elevations—from the forest floor to the treetops and sky—offering a calming, easily navigable environment. This thoughtful approach reinforces Humber Meadows’ commitment to providing both comfort and clarity for its residents.
To reinforce the feeling of home, our team incorporated familiar street suffixes like ‘Drive’ and ‘Lane,’ further enhancing the residential atmosphere. The meadow theme resonated so strongly with stakeholders and residents that the facility’s name was changed to reflect this identity. Additionally, EXD introduced experiential graphic elements such as gallery walls in dining areas to create warmth, variety, and a sense of hospitality, ensuring the space felt welcoming and dignified for all residents.
Kentucky International Convention Center
Louisville, KY
Signage & Wayfinding
Naming & Numbering System
Large venues like the Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) often present navigation challenges, particularly for outof-town guests. EXD addressed this by developing a streamlined wayfinding strategy that simplifies circulation paths, effortlessly guiding visitors through the center while maintaining a strong connection to the vibrant downtown area. The signage is thoughtfully integrated with the building’s reimagined architecture and interiors, offering both functional clarity and a cohesive visual experience. By aligning the wayfinding system with the venue’s design, EXD created an intuitive environment that not only enhances the visitor experience within the center but also smoothly directs them back into the heart of downtown Louisville.
Wichita State University
Wichita,
KS
SERVICES
Masterplanning
Signage & Wayfinding
Inspired by the natural movement of wheat, a symbol of the region’s agricultural heritage, EXD designed the campus wayfinding system at Wichita State University with sleek forms that evoke the gentle sway of wheat stalks in the wind. Our team incorporated a wheat grain pattern, that was water-jet cut into the signage, allowing vibrant yellow accents to shine through and glow at night, creating illuminated, welcoming beacons for students and visitors.
This comprehensive wayfinding system includes building identification markers, vehicular and pedestrian directional signs, pedestrian kiosks and custom map artwork. This holistic approach ensures seamless navigation while reinforcing the university’s unique identity. The thoughtful integration of form, function, and local symbolism makes the wayfinding not just practical but also a reflection of Wichita State University’s community and environment, enhancing the experince of all who visit the campus.
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