Green Lake Park’s wayfinding and signage system is outdated and lacking user-friendliness. In my initial survey of the park’s wayfinding system, i found their signage to be predominantly black and green, which made them blend in too much with their surroundings, and easy to miss. How might we give a much-needed redesign to the park’s signage system that makes information easy to understand and hard to miss?
When redesigning Green Lake's wayfinding system, I felt that signage should complement the natural surroundings but be eye-catching for park-goers, which is why I chose a bright red to base my design system around. The redesign included creating a suite of icons, a mural, and public art concept along with a family of signs, each with unique requrements. Overall, I strived to create a design system that reflects a playful, friendly feel while prioritizing accessibility and striving to be universally understandable.
Art Direction, Layout, Wayfinding, Environmental, Experiential
8 Weeks | Jan 2022 - Mar 2022
Solo Project
Spacial Research, Moodboards
InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate
Before defining the design direction, I visited Green Lake Park to survey the existing signage system. I took note of typography and wayfinding treatment on signage, and was careful to record areas where accessibility and clarification could be improved. In terms of design, I found that Green Lake's current way finding system is predominantly black and green, which causes signage to blend into the environment, rather than call park-goer's attention.
After conducting research, I felt that my redesign of Green Lake's signage system should complement the natural surroundings, but not blend in, which is why I chose an eye-catching red and deep burgundy to base my design system around. Additionally, to represent a natural feel but in a more modern way, I incorporated a wood grain graphic and organic shapes throughout the family of signs.
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I was inspired by the idea of adding something to brighten up the park on darker days, and enhance the bright days even more. I also wanted to tie the public art into my point of interest sign, which features the birds that live around Green Lake. The idea is that on days the sun is out, the flock of colored birds would catch the light and cast colorful shadows on the ground. The bench sculpture also adds a pop of color, while providing a place to sit and snap a photo. The birds would be crafted from colored acrylic, while the bench sculpture would be constructed with coated, colored plexiglass.
Though this mural concept, I strived to create a work of art that's eye-catching and uplifting. I also wanted to promote a friendly reminder to be mindful and present while spending time in the lush park environment, highlighted through the arrow theme and prominent “You Are Here” typography.
In keeping with my public art theme, I strived to create a mural that brightens up the space in a fun and whimsical way. Seattle has a lot of gloomy days, and both my art pieces within the park are intended to provide a dose of warmth and color on dark days, and compliment bright days by making them even brighter.
This mural concept also provides opportunities for interaction with the mural spilling across the walking path, and the funky bench that sits within the painted doorway shape that offers a resting spot and photo opportunity. The bench would be constructed from stone, and painted.
Green Lake Park's redesigned wayfinding system succeeds in making signs hard for park-goers to miss, and presenting information in a digestible and easy to understand way. Through the visual design of the family of signs and public art and mural concepts, Green Lake Park gets a bright, friendly face-lift that is reflective of Seattle’s modern park visitors.
