Environmental graphics are a design discipline that uses visual elements to enhance the overall experience of an interior or exterior space. These elements include signs, wayfinding systems, murals, and other graphics that are integrated into the architecture of a building or public space. The goal of environmental graphics is to create a cohesive and memorable experience for users, while also helping to communicate information and guide navigation.
What are some examples of environmental graphics?
Wayfinding systems: Signs or maps that help visitors navigate a facility, such as in a business park, apartment complex, mall, or hospital.
Murals and graphics on walls, windows or doors: Large-scale graphics that can be used to communicate a brand identity, create a sense of place, tell a story or add visual interest to a space.
Floor graphics: Graphics applied to floors, such as in a mall or a showroom, to guide visitors or to showcase a product.
Ceiling graphics: Graphics applied to ceilings, such as in a museum or a retail store, to add visual interest or to create a sense of immersion.
Dimensional letters and logos: Three-dimensional letters and logos, such as those in a lobby or building entrance. These can also be found on interior walls of a restaurant or exterior of buildings in a multifamily housing development.
What are the benefits to using environmental graphics?
There are several benefits to a businesses for using environmental graphics:
Branding: Environmental graphics can be used to reinforce a company’s brand identity and values, creating a strong and consistent visual presence.
Wayfinding: Environmental graphics can help visitors navigate a facility, making it easier for them to find their way around and reducing the potential for confusion or frustration.
Marketing: Environmental graphics can be used to promote products, services or events, providing an additional platform for marketing and advertising.
Experience: Environmental graphics can help to create a sense of place, enhance the overall aesthetic of a space and make the experience of being there more enjoyable for visitors.
Increased foot traffic: Environmental graphics can be used to highlight key areas or features of a facility and increase foot traffic, which can result in increased sales or usage of these areas.
Cost-effective: Environmental graphics are often more cost-effective than traditional forms of advertising, as they can be integrated into existing spaces and can last for many years with proper maintenance.
Environmental graphics at Element Analytics in Oakland
Our client, Element Analytics, leveraged environmental graphics throughout their facility in Oakland for wayfinding, branding and privacy. The exterior dimensional letter sign matched the conference room sign for a consistent brand presence.
The use of floor graphics defined the entryway to the lab; while room identification signs provided information as well as reinforced the branding.
Etched window graphics provided privacy for conference room doors and exterior facing windows. Wayfinding and branding were extended in the parking lot for the benefit of employees and visitors.
Wondering what value signs add to athletics facilities? Beyond the obvious of improving the aesthetics, athletic signs can motivate, inspire, showcase, inform and honor. Some of the most rewarding jobs we have had the pleasure to complete are with our local schools and athletic facilities.
Signs offer may benefits to athletic organizations and sports facilities:
1. Donor Recognition
Many athletic programs and facilities are funded by private donors, alumni or local businesses. Signage plays a primary role in recognizing those donors for their contributions and support. St. Mary’s College in Moraga used dimensional letter signs on the exterior of the Player Development Center to honor its major funder. Scottsdale Swim Club incorporated local businesses into the new scoreboard with full-color logos below the digital display. Seven Hill School created a unique donor wall to give recognition to all the patrons who support the school.
2. Sponsorship Showcase
Athletic facilities can often present challenges for signage. They often lack traditional surfacesor standard sizes. We worked closely with the Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek to create unique signs to fulfill sponsorship agreements. With 20-foot tall, open ceilings and basketball stations against ever wall, we had to get creative. We devised a banner with weights inserted into the lower edging that hung from the rafters. This 25-foot banner was sturdy enough to withstand impact from basketballs and predominately showcased the program sponsors. Similarly, we wrapped support beams with sponsor-branded impact pads that served a dual purpose of protecting the players and highlighting a key sponsor.
3. Motivation
Signs can create motivation and inspiration within an athletic facility. These magnetic wall graphics at COPA soccer training facility feature full-capacity soccer stadiums across from the world. Talk about inspiration to become your best!
4. Information
Carondelet High School in Concord needed some informational signs for its athletes and visitors. We worked with the athletic department and school facilities manager to create temporary and permanent signs. The stand-alone fabric banner in the weight room informed athletes of the equipment and programs at that location. These signs were light and portable to accommodate various locations within the room. The outdoor directional signs helped guide visitors to the location of the fields and courts throughout the campus.
5. Honor and Reward
Lastly, and most importantly, are the gymnasium banners that serve as timeless trophies for the championship teams. We’ve had the pleasure of working with many schools and universities throughout the Bay Area that honor their student-athlete champions with gym banners. Whether it’s a 6th grade cross country title at Orinda Intermediate School or an NCAA title at St. Mary’s College, these banners serve as sources of pride and unity for the entire student body.
Let us know how we can help with signage needs at your sports facility or athletic department. Give us a call to schedule a consultation!
Environmental signage is a vehicle to share brand messaging by using existing space to tell a story. It allows businesses to turn blank spaces into branded environments that evoke an emotional appeal. It blurs the lines between utility and art by combiningfunction with graphic design to transform otherwise underutilized spaces. Environmental signage fosters engagement with customers and employees and enables you to make an impact at your retail location, office space or within the community using thoughtfully designed signs.
Environmental signage can establish a brand identity, reinforce brand values and create positive customer experiences. Some examples of environmental signage include:
wayfinding information
wraps
window graphics
word walls
wall graphics and murals
interpretive graphics or art installations
immersive spaces
Benefits of Using Environmental Signage
SET THE TONE
Your signage gives customers an idea of what your brand stands for and provides context for what kind of experience your customers can expect. Where does your brand fall in the larger scheme of things? How do you compare to the competition? Environmental signage visually communicates and conveys this information. Kinder’s retail location in Concord did this in spades showcasing it’s heritage and mission using wall graphics throughout the store.
CREATE CONNECTION
Environmental signage fosters engagement with customers as well as employees. It can create an emotional connection through imagery, color and location. Does it surprise and delight? Is it unique and creative? Retail store, Anthropology in Walnut Creek, used environmental graphics on the outside and inside of the elevators to create a cohesive and welcoming customer experience.
DEFINE THE EXPERIENCE
Environmental signage is one of the most effective ways that an organization can craft and direct the interaction between user, place and purpose. According to Fedex Office, who operates approximately 2,000 locations in the U.S., over 2 out of 3 consumers believe that business signage reflects the quality of its products and services. KOTA Contenders extended its “fight like a lion” tagline through wall graphics and murals demonstrating the brand ethos.
DIFFERENTIATE & INFORM
Use environmental signage to grow your business and create better experiences for customers. Companies stand out with branding. Signage with clean, clear designs and vibrant colors make your brand memorable. At Sequoia Signs, our goal is to make sure your signage not only performs functionally but also helps create a winning customer experience. COPA Soccer Training Center in Walnut Creek enhanced it’s fitness center with large-scale images of famous soccer stadiums around the world.
ESTABLISH YOUR IDENTITY
Environmental signage is a great vehicle for brand storytelling. Creative branding helps companies reflect their values and lifestyle, engaging potential customers. Using environmental signage allows businesses to establish a brand personality and identity. It makes your business memorable and relatable.
SEQUOIA SIGNS & GRAPHICS CAN HELP
Sequoia Signs and Graphics helps organizations develop environmental signage and graphics packages that merge their companies branding with their signage needs.
With so many elements and considerations, environmental signage can be complex. See more examples of our recent environmental graphics and wall wraps for inspiration! Our expertise is helping guide our clients through the problem solving and technical elements of the sign package and graphics process while keeping a clear focus on your brand.
Give us a call to see how we can help you tell your story!
TOM SCHNURR
Sequoia Signs & Graphics is an architectural sign company that provides comprehensive signage solutions for multifamily housing developments, business parks, and campuses. Our innovative approach combines project branding with wayfinding to create differentiated and unique sign packages. As a full-service sign manufacturer, we manage projects from concept to installation throughout Northern California.
