Cinémathèque Québécoise Wayfinding

The Cinémathèque québécoise is at once a museum and an active film institution. The space houses two screening rooms where classic and contemporary films are regularly presented.

Inspired by the animated film movement, the signage of the Cinémathèque québécoise is rooted within the space. Both classic and contemporary, it is integrated into the architecture, but also highlights it. Light cues help define the space and differentiate exhibition and screening rooms. Signage is deployed throughout in a playful and prominent manner. The leading wall applications set a narrative for the space as well as standing in as visual guides.

The signage mandate included both indoor and outdoor elements. A typology of 11 elements was used to create the signage system, for a total of 95 objects/interventions throughout the space. A production document of approximately 100 pages was produced in order to visually represent the various types of interventions along with the technical specifications relating to materiality and color.

At once signage and branding, the language developed was employed across many platforms: printed programs, social media promotion, introductory sequence to films presented in their screening rooms. The project was met with much enthusiasm and significantly contributed to the revitalization of the space. The quality of the branding attracts more people to the institution and the quality of the space incites them to return.

Design Team

Bryan-K. Lamonde (art director), Mathieu Cournoyer (project manager)

Project Area

42,000 sq ft

Consultants

Jolin Masson, Stéphane Poirier

Fabricators

Groupe BLH