Salem State College

A brisk, lively solution to the problem of identity and wayfinding in a collegiate setting marked by an ad hoc architectural infrastructure, a diverse student body and a need to define itself within the existing urban fabric of Salem. Increasingly, signage has become a problem for colleges and universities. In the past, a homogeneous, dorm-bound population was expected to know the campus by word of mouth. This was a private, even privileged environment, turning its back on the public streetscape. Today, commuting, non-traditional students of many ages and backgrounds, and corporate alliances have made the ready identification of routes through campus imperative. This set of signs manages to be cheerful, distinctive, and legible as Salem State logos even when seen from the rear.