Aluksne School Wayfinding
The school is located in Alūksne – a culturally and historically significant region of Latvia, where an idiosyncratic Malenian identity with accompanying Latvian dialect have taken root. In creating the placemaking and wayfinding strategy, we used provocation as a method to interact with users and create connections between pupils and place. We not only help them to find their way, but also encourage them to think critically. The target audience is Generation Z, which is known as the “loneliest generation” and highly appreciates an attitude characterized by integrity.
Agency
Design studio H2E
Practice Area
Client
Ernsts Gliks’ Aluksne State Secondary School and Aluksne Municipality Council
Industry
The Challenge
The design task was to create the school’s functional wayfinding and environmental graphic design, which is not just informative, but generates a feeling of affinity and belonging to the community, highlighting and reinforcing cultural traditions. An engagement approach was chosen as the solution. 39 wall drawings done by hand and texts have been created in line with the subjects taught at the school, and are positioned alternately with the functional wayfinding, creating an informal and inspiring environment.
Project Vision
Environmental graphics create a space for the school, where during breaks between classes, transit zones are akin to a conversation in which pupils are asked open questions which then space for answers. The objective is to stimulate independent thinking, help school kids to appreciate local heritage and take pride in their identity as Malenians.
Each floor is dedicated to its own theme: Ground Floor Malenia instilling the feeling of Genius Loci, 1st floor dedicated to the school’s founder, 2nd floor social responsibility, climate change, natural sciences, 3rd floor – Math stories, and 4th floor digital wellbeing.
Content is presented in a way that engages Generation Z: a brief specific statement, a fact + an open question at the end, stimulating kids not only to dig deeper in their thinking, but also to think independently, and interact with the content. Therefore, school walls help pupils to discover their identity and personality both in Latvia and globally.
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Design + Execution
The project’s success story is based on the opportunity it presents to engage in shaping the school environment in the form of a dialog, creating spaces where it is pleasant and inspiring to spend time, and where students acknowledge that their environment gives them greater motivation to learn.
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Anna Olsen
Project Details
Design Team
Ingūna Elere (creative director)
Laura Lorence (graphic designer)
Elina Elere (illustrator)
Lauris Gundars (copywriter)
Design Studio H2E (physical fabrication)
Collaborators
Una Tetere-Teterovska (alūksne municipality)
Photo Credits
Anna Olsen
Open Date
November 2022