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Engergising Central Park

BRAND IDENTITY + WAYFINDING & SIGNAGE + ACTIVATION

Lopez Design was commissioned to create a comprehensive wayfinding and signage system for a leading real estate developer’s upcoming township in Pune, located on the banks of the Mula river. Designed by master planners DADA Partners & landscape architects StudioPod, it contributes to a large green space in the middle of the city. Central Park has ample active and passive spaces, exclusively for the township’s community catering to their recreational, fitness and work interests.

Signage Creates Holistic Experiences

An effective wayfinding and signage system provides pertinent information and directions for people to find their way around, and creates a sense of place. Alongside necessary information like park rules, first aid etc, a wayfinding system helps to communicate a cohesive image of the park.

A Multidisciplinary approach to Wayfinding

Our strategic approach brings teams from different fields like information
design, graphic design and industrial design. Using Information Design Techniques we collected relevant data and drew conclusions, tested and evaluated solutions via user interactions. Graphic design, typography and iconography come in to create clear and contextual communications. The physical construction of the sign required our Industrial Designers to make designs with appropriate choices of materials and finishes. The signage
conveys the story of the environment in a strong contemporary language, fostering connections between the park and its users.

Wayfinding Strategy

The wayfinding strategy was developed by looking at the central spine as
the main connector with the basic large directional signs placed along this
primary pathway. This connects to the major zones and destinations of the
park, alongwith the various health loops. Smaller friendly signs were brought in to give localised directions and identify various amenities like health pods and cycle stands.

Information design

The park’s exclusive features are the three possible jogging routes or ‘health loops’ (600, 300 & 270 meters respectively), and other short trails like forest trail, reflexology trail & rope walkway.

Information about these trails like distances, maps, calories burnt etc are communicated in a simplified user-friendly manner. The colour-coded trail information in pastel shades aided users with trail identification markers, distance markers & track maps, all of which enhanced their run. Clear defined routes were marked that do not overlap with other trails. Each health loop was designed to emblematically start at active recreational zones like the Open Courts, Open Gym, Pet Park and Health Pods.

Materials

We stayed true to the ethos of the project by reflecting on nature and sustainability, using reclaimed teak wood for the signage. The upcycled elements are raw and industrial in character, becoming central in the expression via a functional & minimal design language. The system exhibits modular flexibility to integrate different sign typologies, minimising clutter.

Graphics

The graphics are clean and refreshing, narrating the story of central park to its residents and visitors. Symbols of local birds are burnt into the wood, fostering local pride and a strong connection through the brand imagery.

Colors and Color Coding

While colors for the different kinds of trails were chosen distinctly so that they are easy to read and interpret at a quick glance, the primary signage is a green panel which is consistent through the system. This color was chosen so the signage would blend with the verdant surroundings instead of a color which would clash with nature.

Entrance Sign

Moss is used on the entrance sign along with the central park identity to make a distinctive appearance that is memorable.

Unique bird symbols from the natural environment along with identity burnt into the wood creates a sense of belonging and pride of place’

A Way Into Hearts

The Wayfinding and Signage not only added a fine layer of informed usage of central park but also enhanced the whole experience of the park by weaving
in carefully-designed intangible aspects of the environment into the system. It marked out the features of the space very discreetly, making it interesting to explore and taking into cognizance that the natural setting stays unsullied. The nifty signage with a unique color coding system heightens the experience of the park for users, leaving them with a natural feeling of belonging.

Team

Ajay Sharma
Prabhjot Kaur
Namita Jain
Mohan Godwal
Anshul Kapoor
Tarka Patil
Anthony Lopez

Support

Vijay Soreng
Zeena Lopez

 

© 2023 Lopez Design Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved

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