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RandomosityThe State of Wayfinding at Northeastern University

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History of the Mark

1917The Evening Institute of the Young Men’s Christian Association.Adapted from the YMCA’s emblem

1922Seal change after Northeastern officially incorporated as a university.

1935“Lux, Veritas, Virtus.” Light, Truth, and Courage. Working Class students. After the university official-ly separated from the YMCA.

1960Changed during a period of expansion and change. Uni-versity moved from a technical institu-tion to a professional place of learning.

1977This seal ushered in the beginning of the era we are currently in and marked a time when Northeastern really started to be-come a modern uni-versity.

1990A smaller more streamlined logo to embrace a smaller and more stream-lined university.

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Branding Standards

2008 Rebrand Korn DesignWhen used in a four color process the seal appears in PMS Warm Gray 11 with the word mark in “Northeastern Red” (0, 100, 90, 5) CMYK. There are black and white versions of the Logo-Type as well.

LogoTypeThe redesign of the Northeastern logo marked a fun-damental shift in the way the university is perceived both by its students and the communities that it ex-ists in (local and global). A modified version of the font Baskerville was developed specifically for the word mark and the seal is a revision of the 1935 hand drawn version.

WARM GRAY 11CMYK(0, 13, 30, 76)

BLACKK(100)

NU REDCMYK (0, 100, 90, 5)

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TypographyUsageHelvetica Neue serves as an informa-tive and readable display face. It is eco-nomical in terms of space and the bold weight can be read at great distances.

New Baskerville is used for identifying the university and things that require a formal presentation.

The italic set of this font is used to sig-nify second level information pertaining to colleges and the university

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv wxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv wxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789

Helvetica Neue Bold Condensed

New Baskerville Roman

New Baskerville Italic

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1935The 1935 map shows what a more familiar Northeastern, closer to the neighborhood that we know today.

1961This map is particularly unique in its illustration style and orientation. The pitch is shifted to show the dimension of the buildings and the viewer is looking across campus to the southeast.

Campus MapsA Brief History

1924The first map in the ar-chive is from the 1924 student handbook. Due to the university’s small size the map puts it in the greater context of Boston.

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More Recently A Brief History Continued

1967And here Huntington Avenue runs North to South. Not an accurate representation but an in-teresting way of dividing the campus.

1976This map marks the ad-dition of grid correspon-dence numbers to help the user isolate quad-rants on the map. The buildings are denoted by a quadrant and two letter abbreviation.

1985Here the pitch has shift-ed back to a purely birds eye view and sectors of the map are denoted along the bottom but not by latitude.

1966In this version Hunting-ton Avenue runs horizon-tally through the middle of campus.

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Current MapTransitional

2008Displayed to the right is the current campus map, available at the information desk in Curry Student Center in paper copy form. The map is currently being used in the interim period while the new brand is applied to a redesigned map bro-chure and printed.

This map is consider-ably more detailed than previous years, however it excludes some use-ful conventions from earlier maps. The grid correspondence num-bers are gone replaced with a numeric labeling system for all campus buildings. That numeric

system loosely follows a top to bottom left to right pattern, however it piece-meal at best.

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Precedents Campus Map

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ARTISTS’ RESIDENCEConvenience StoreDoran Gallery

COLLINSCeramicsFoundry & Welding ShopGlassJewelry & Metalsmithing

EASTEnvironmental Health & SafetyFilm / VideoPrintmakingPublic SafetyWoodshop

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KENNEDYArt Supply & BookstoreCareer ServicesCounseling ServicesDining CommonsHousing & Residence LifeInternational EducationPaintingPhotographyStudent CenterStudent DevelopmentStudent Government Association

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NORTHFibersFilm / VideoGodine GalleryPozen CenterSculptureStudio for Interrelated Media

SMITH HALL RESIDENCE

SOUTHAdmissionsArnheim GalleryArt EducationBakalar GalleryBrant GalleryCenter for Art & Community PartnershipsCuratorial ProgramsPaine GalleryStudio Foundation

TOWERAcademic AdvisingAcademic AffairsAdministration & FinanceAlumni RelationsAlumni RoomAnimationArchitectureArt HistoryBusiness OfficeCentral ServicesCivil Rights Compliance & DiversityCommunity Relations

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Events Planning & Theater ManagementFacilitiesFashion DesignFilm / VideoFoundation Conference RoomGraduate CenterGraduate ProgramsGraphic DesignHuman ResourcesIllustrationIndustrial DesignInstitutional AdvancementInstitutional ResearchLearning CenterLiberal ArtsLibraryMarketing & CommunicationsMassArt FoundationPresident’s OfficePresident’s GalleryProfessional & Continuing EducationPublic ArtPurchasingRegistrarSpecial EventsStudent Financial AssistanceTechnologyTower AuditoriumTower CaféTower GalleryTrustees RoomUrban Arts InstituteYouth Programs

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Kent StateThis campus map takes an interesting approach by representing the in-formation in its simplest form. In some ways this is easier to navigate be-cause of the minimal amount of detail.

Mass ArtAs Northeastern’s neigh-bor, the Mass Art cam-pus map is a great exam-ple of how someone else handled the orientation of Huntington Avenue and density of a city uni-versity.

RISDAlthough this is RISD’s interactive online map, it serves as a good exam-ple. It is a 3D representa-tion and provides contex-tual city markers.

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Information KiosksShillman Hall & Speare Quad

Located next to Shillman Hall and in the Speare Quad

Detail view of the map

There are different styles of kiosks lo-cated around campus and all of them include a map of the university. The kiosks themselves could be better de-signed to help with navigating both the campus itself and the surrounding city areas as well. Highlighting points of interest in Boston could be helpful in encouraging students to explore what’s around them. The kiosks could also display other information pertinent to the campus events. Since these kiosks are central markers, they could serve as an easy location to post campus-wide information.

The kiosk located by Shillman Hall has the whole backside unused. This could be prime real estate to display different kinds of information. The backside of the Krentzmen Quad kiosk also could allow for more information to be dis-played.

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Kiosks & Flat MapsCurrently on campus

Located outside the Snell Library Quad

Located in Krentzman Quad.

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One example of an effective kiosk is what was done by the design firm Two Twelve for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The kiosk map that they cre-ated divided up the city into the four main areas, color coded them, and listed destinations, points of interest, and ongoing events in the respective areas. This could be a good solution for our current campus kiosks as it would be a good way to tie in the surrounding community. Also, the campus could be divided up, perhaps by quads, as an easier way of getting around.

A second example is what was done for Yale University. This is their first public kiosk. The new kiosk effectively brings together both the University and the city of New Haven and allows both students and residents of the city to navigate the university and city. This could be a good solution for our current kiosks to make both students and residents aware of the campus and what is avail-able in the areas surrounding campus.

PrecedentsTwo Twelve & Yale Kiosks

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Applied Information GroupGlasgow, Scotland Kiosks A third example of a successful prec-edent offers another way of utilizing the kiosks with other information as op-posed to always being a map. Applied Information Group was the firm re-sponsible for creating these kiosks for Glasgow, Scotland. The kiosks not only have maps of the city, but also high-light other things of interest, like for example notable architecture one can

Campus Wayfinding ProjectSchool project made for the University college of Gjøvik. Incorporates an origi-nal typeface and lettering system for campus landmarks to unify the univer-sity.

Marque DesignNorth Glasgow College

find in Glasgow. This could offer a good solution for our current kiosks because perhaps different landmarks in Boston around the vicinity of campus could be highlighted or maybe current events coming up on campus could be dis-played. As of now, the only real way to know about upcoming events is via the sandwich boards sporadically placed on campus and having a central location for the information could allow for more student participation.

PrecedentsKiosks

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Most signs you see on Northestern’s campus are also made on campus at the local sign shop. These sign range from on-going events to building directories.

The magager of the sign shop, Christina Salvato, was able to provide us with some key information:

Signs are usually made out of one of three different materials, Komatex, MDO Board and Dibond.

Northeastern University President Auon is quite involved in the process of sign making and is the final approval of most signs.

Although it is not very apparent, wayfinding at North-eastern is underway.

Northeastern is in the proccess of changing all the signs to the new identity which uses new fonts and logos.

Wayfinding at Northeastern is improving, especially with the new gateway project that is in process.

KomatexWeather resistant plastic sheets can be used for outdoorapplications. Suitable for the advertising, displays and exhibition stands.

The Sign ShopCampus Signage

MDO boardMedium Density Overlay board is usually made of plywood, coated with outer layers of resin kraft paper. Not reccomended foroutside use.

DibondDibond is an aluminum composite material (ACM) made of two pre-painted sheets of aluminum. It is flat, du-rable, andweather resistant.

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Process of converting old signs to new identity

Co-ops sent on mission

Take pictures of buildings and answer following ques-tions: Is it a traditional sign or does it use engraving? How many signs on a build-ing? What material is the sign and how is it affixed to the building?

How many, what size, what material is all concluded in list.

List is shown to contractor who compiles information into the proposal.

Proposal is shown to the Director of Facilities Operations and the Director of Design for Marketing and Communi-cations.

“Around this time, I also received the actual design layout/prototype of what each sign should look like depending on whether it was going to be a wooden sign or a vinyl sign placed on glass. The layouts also varied in size depending on how much text was involved.”

Christina Salvato Manager, Sign shop

Start looking into other ma-terials (besides wood) that would be more weather-resistant and in turn last longer. Decided to use 3mm Dibond.

List is made Proposal Prototype Material search

Decision to outsource

“We decided that our best method at this point was to have the entire project outsourced. Everything it entailed was stuff we were capable of doing in the shop but with the intention of saving ourselves a lot of time, we decided it was better to outsource.”

At the weekly meeting, the Vice-President of Facilities proposed building signage would only have one sign even if it currently had two.

Companies prices are compared.

Samples from each of the four companies are sent out to shop.

Once recieved a desicion on the company will be made.

Landscape and grounds staff who will then remove the existing signage and replace it with the new.

List is made Price Samples Sent Signs are installed

“Keep in mind this process probably would have been somewhat expedited and short-er had the discussion and pro-cess not taken place prior to, during, and after move-in which is one of the, if not THE, busiest times of the year for us and the entire Facilities division.” Christina Salvato

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Every Wednesday a wayfinding meet-ing is held where the Manager of the sign shop, Vice President of Facilties, the Design director of Creative Services, Director of Landscaping and the Physi-cal Plant Operations Manager. The fol-lowing issues are discussed:

The current and future issues of way-finding at Northeastern.

The new gateway system that will be underway soon.

Replacement of old identity to the new.

The Sign Shop

The most challenging part would probably be the research and being able to find a solution that accommodates all concerning factors; weather, sustainability, building structure, and also something that people are happy with.Christina SalvatoManager, Northeastern Sign Shop

Wayfinding Wednesdays

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The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law in July 1990. This his-toric act was designed to provide equal access and opportunities to all Ameri-cans with disabilities.

The law requires to remove archi-tectural and communication barriers where “readily achievable.” This means a good faith effort must be made to accommodate the disabled, which in-cludes the installation of ADA tactile and braille signage for the benefit of the visually impaired.

State and local sign codes vary consid-erably, such as symbol signs for rest-room doors required in California.

Accessibility

Typeface Regulations state that letters and numbers on signs shall have a width-to-height ratio between 3:5 and 1:1, and a stroke width-to-height ratio be-tween 1:5 and 1:10.

Contrast Characters and symbols are recommended to have a minimum of 70% contrast with their back-ground.

DistanceOverhead directional signs must have a cap height of at least 3”. Other directional signs do not have a specified cap height but must be “size according to view-ing distance.”

Braille Permanent room signs must have characters raised 1/32” uppercase and must be accompa-nied by Grade 2 Braille.

ADA Standards

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The tunnels that connect different buildings on campus are barren of any sort of helpful directional information. The only sort of map is set up right be-fore one enters the tunnels. The empty hallways of the tunnels could offer a great opportunity for new wayfinding signage. The tunnels could become more user-friendly and allow for easier navigation with a new signage system.

Current Map of the tunnel system at Northeastern University. Buildings are denoted by color and there is a map at the entrance to every tunnel. How-ever, once inside the tunnels it is not clear which direction you are walking or where you are going.

TunnelsCurrently on campus

Currently on campus

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Boston Children’s Hospital Two Twelve Associates An effective solution that our current tunnel system could benefit from is what the firm Two Twelve implemented at Children’s Hospital Boston. Although their signage is not for a tunnel system like ours, the solution they created of-fers easy improvements to our current system.

Children’s utilizes a color-coded system for their directional signage. Every area of the hospital is represented by both a color and a symbol. Our current tunnels map system already has different

Monash University Hofstede DesignBeyond an awesomely pristine white hallway, large floor graphics and wall signage call out different locations, in a space that is ordinarily quite difficult to orient oneself in.

colors to represent the respective build-ings, so the system of hanging signs from the ceiling with directional arrows and the appropriate color could aid in finding one’s way around. Currently, the tunnels are empty and if someone does not know their way around, it could become confusing. This simple signage could help to both increase directional awareness and liven up the empty hall-ways.

PrecedentTunnels

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In our canvassing of the campus we no-ticed an incredible number of flat panel television displays. The one feeling we were all left with after seeing them, was that we wanted more. It is clear that they aren’t being used to their full po-tential, but what is that potential?

Possible uses:

Directional Wayfinding / Navigation

Student generated content

Standardize submission process for current artwork so that it matches di-mensions of the screen.

Create adaptable touch screen technol-ogy to outfit screens with for interactiv-ity.

Comments / Thoughts?

Curry Student CenterIndoor Quad

Curry Student CenterInformation Desk & Work Terminals

DisplaysCurrently on campus

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http://www.librisdesign.org/docs/WayfindingSignage.pdf

“Wayfinding and Signing in Library Design” provides a a brief explanation of wayfinding principles and how to approach a wayfinding project. Included and especially useful are the explanation of signage/type sizes and the user’s ability to use process informa-tion.

Marque - Recent North Glasgow College

Marque’s wayfinding project for North Glasgow Col-lege provides the campus with multiple solutions to their wayfinding problems. The firm utilizes paint to make large, comprehensive, and cost-efficient solu-tions. Other forms of signage include cut-outs and lighting. The simplicity and minimalist color palette make it much more readable.

Hofstede Design

The wayfinding and signage at Monash University combines the use of large paint signage and room placards to create a macro and micro approach to wayfinding. Simplistic kiosks with clean building list-ings and that avoid traditional campus mapping are easy to read and point you in the right direction.

Wayfinding project | Unravel Creative | Design | Illustration | Photography

The wayfinding project at University College of Gjovik gives an in-depth look at different forms of signage. Large outdoor three-dimensional signage corresponding to the building letters (A, B, C…) make finding buildings easier. The project also uses overhead signage, floor signage, thin double-sided kiosks, and a simple color palette to guide visitors of the campus.

Emir Bukva: design portfolio: environmental

Buvka’s portfolio allows a look at Kent State’s vehicu-lar signage. They make use of symbols (i.e. informa-tion and parking) and directional arrows to guide drivers around campus.

Wayfinding - Waitakere Central Library: Dallow Boss

Waitakere Central Library’s signage includes large directional banners that provide users with the en-trance’s address. Floor listings provide a simple way for users to direct themselves around a building.

Library wayfinding | Cardiff Design Festival

Rectangular kiosks at Cardiff Library utilize all sides to inform users about what can be found in that particular location and, on other sides, what can be found elsewhere. The color palette is inviting and corresponds with the large exterior building signage.

McHenry Library Sign Project - a set on Flickr

The McHenry Library signage project is an example of how uniformity and simplicity combine to create a friendly user environment.

ADA SIGNAGE AND ACCESIBIL-ITY GUIDELINES

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines provide restrictions that we will have to consider and adhere to if there is a possibility for implementation of our project.

Bibliography