Brent Cross Town – pedestrian wayfinding
by Fieldwork Facility, for Brent Cross Town, a partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council
Brent Cross Town in London is a new development that promises to become a go-to destination for sports and play. Marketed as a ‘Park Town for Future London’ the area prioritises green open space and playing fields as a way of promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
Tasked with creating pedestrian wayfinding for Brent Cross Town, local design studio Fieldwork Facility came up with a series of signs that guide members of the public from the local train station to the development. These pieces of signage playfully help visitors to navigate their way around, using a yellow colour scheme and range of whimsical but functional shapes that put a smile on people’s faces and excite them at the prospect of engaging in fun activities. As part of the development’s pledge to be net-zero carbon before 2030, the signs utilised existing street furniture wherever possible. These signs are just the first step in a wider project by Fieldwork Facility that will see the implementation of public art, design interventions, a parade of shops, and general hygiene improvements along the route.
The judges said: “Simple, unique and well executed. I love this project. So much character. A joyful way to navigate yourself around Brent Cross.”
Borough Yards
by f.r.a., for MARK
Design studio f.r.a. was responsible for the wayfinding in Borough Yards, a new cultural destination in the London borough of Southwark. Positioned close to the historic Borough Market, the area offers dining, shopping and working, all within a mix of old and new structures, public squares and secluded shopping streets.
Rather than create a simple series of signs to do the job, f.r.a. decided that Borough Yards needed something extra to allow visitors to properly navigate the site, taking advantage of all that it has to offer. Settling on the notion of ‘wanderfinding’, the team at f.r.a. came up with pieces of signage that blend wayfinding, storytelling and art. These encourage visitors to explore in a non-linear way, taking in the history of the area as they do so. Five different entrances to the site were each given special treatments, including a bold, oversized neon artwork at the main entrance which features historical figures who once called Southwark home. Elsewhere, ghost signs, smaller hidden signs, large wall murals, fly poster tenant directories, and ‘whimsical gargoyles’ add to the experience through presenting visitors with a diverse range of wayfinding devices, making each journey through the site unique.
Elephant Park, London
by City ID, for Lendlease
Due to be completed by 2026, Elephant Park in the London borough of Elephant & Castle is a new mixed-use development that offers shops, bars, restaurants and places to live, and is centred around a two-acre park, one of the largest new green spaces to be introduced to central London for over 70 years.
Wayfinding for the development was overseen by the team at City ID, who devised a comprehensive naming and addressing strategy for the streets, spaces and buildings which celebrate notable aspects of the local area. For the park, which is currently under construction, the team came up with temporary maps, timelines and supergraphics printed directly onto wooden hoarding, while permanent solutions feature map-based totems that draw on the language and information architecture of the surrounding area. Other pieces of signage also provide information about the climate positive programme, biodiversity and history of the site, and utilise illustrated graphics and pictograms to communicate key messaging in an accessible and engaging way.
Leake Street Arches
by Maynard, for LCR
Leake Street in London is a former railway tunnel famed for its legal street art. Recently renamed Leake Street Arches, a new project on the site repurposes nearby railway arches to offer a collection of independent restaurants, bars and performance spaces.
Wayfinding for the project, which was carried out by Maynard, champions the street art through signage that embraces its ever-evolving nature. Names, directions and maps are constructed in 3D blocks which remain visible even when sketched over, while illuminated signs guide visitors through the maze of artworks and at the same time shine a literal light on them. Continuous lines and solid shading on the signage draws inspiration from the nearby graffiti, and a neutral colour palette helps it to blend in with its surroundings and not detract from them. Here, Maynard’s vision was to amplify the voices of the artists by breaking rules of wayfinding in a tribute to the origins of street art.
See Paddington
by Steer, for The Paddington Partnership
Working alongside design agency Jedco, London-based wayfinding specialists Steer devised a unique navigational system for Paddington Basin that helps the public to find and traverse the canal that runs through the area.
Rather than turn to traditional forms of wayfinding, Steer commissioned poets Jo Bell and Sophie Herxheimer to transform the stories and experiences of Paddington locals into poetic phrases that guide people into and through the canal path. These were made physical through a series of painted and perforated steel panels featuring patterns, imagery and words that connect to three separate themes: nature, heritage and personal connections. They also present passers-by with information on Paddington’s significant role in transportation over the years, including the movement of goods on the Grand Union and Regent’s Canal, as well as the London bus system, the tube lines and the arrival of the Heathrow Express.
Wayfinding and Environmental Graphics
HALL OF FAME WINNERS
shortlisted
highly commended
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