The designers sough to create a child-focused, friendly, easy-to-understand environmental graphic design program that remained consistent with the identity that they previously established – the identity consists of five children's hands of different shades arranged to form a star-like shape. They used handprints from children involved in Westside Children's Center programs as the centerpiece of the system. The primary focus was to design everything with the child in mind as well as adhere to necessary code requirements. For example, most children at the center are not of reading age and therefore room numbers would not be adequate in helping them remember which classroom was theirs. The animal/hand illustrations serve as an icon that the children can easily identify and recall. The result is a wonderfully creative and fun system that's easily understood and enjoyed by children and adults alike.
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Design Team:
Brian Lane (Principal in Charge)
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N/A
Fabricators:
DD+E, Architectural Signage
Jury Comments:
"This is a very successful wayfinding system for young children who are too young to read. The development of the animal pictogram system based on children's handprints is playful and a creative way to enrich the environment within a limited budget. The use of color in the animal illustrations contributes to a positive atmosphere for the high-risk families and children who use this center."