The Power of the Tangible

Physical experiences are powerful and carry weight.  Words have become cheap – people can easily tell you what you want to hear.  When a business takes the time to think about how they want their guests to feel and invests money on a physical experience that expresses their company’s difference, value proposition, and culture, it builds credibility. Vestibules, lobbies, reception desks and waiting areas are all tangible experiences in your facilities that are shaping the first impression.

Who Are You Impressing?

Our clients often have their customers or prospective customers in mind when they come to us to help shape an entrance or threshold experience.  While these guests are important, the experience also influences the perception of current and prospective employees, members, business partners, vendors, and investors.

How Do You Want Your Guests to Feel?

When designing spaces, we ask our customers, “how do you want your guests to feel?”  The answers to this question will vary, reflecting the industry our customer is in and their unique offering in that industry.  Answers include safe, invigorated, comfortable, confident, peaceful, proud and many more.

Different Designs for The Same Feeling

It’s not uncommon for two businesses to want to create the same feeling – e.g. comfort.  The right creative solution for each business, however, will be different based on the nature of that building and the needs of their guests.  For example, what makes a guest comfortable walking into an estate planning law firm to discuss a recent death in the family is quite different than what makes a business owner comfortable walking into the office of a technology consulting firm to talk about how to use technology for a competitive advantage.

If you’d like help shaping the first impression made by your facility – whether a lobby, reception area, waiting room, or vestibule, contact Ideation Orange in Hazel Park, Michigan.  We exist to maximize the impact of built-environments using signage, environmental graphics, and interior design.  We create branded environments.

Photos © 2018 Gene Meadows

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They were speaking our language.  We call it space branding and storytelling and we were excited to partner with them to accomplish these goals.

Goal No. 1 – Increase Sales & Revenue with Storytelling

With roots in parts distribution, Morrell has grown through multiple company acquisitions into the Morrell Group, a company capable of providing fully-engineered and manufactured solutions in multiple industries.  Simply put, many of their customers did not comprehend all that the Morrell Group was capable of solving for them. As existing and prospective customers regularly toured the Morrell Group Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan as part of their buying process, this facility was the perfect place to tell the full story.

Together We Can & Life Cycle Icons

A tour of the facility would begin in the Sales and Project Management workspace, where we communicated Morrell Group’s mission, values, and complete life-cycle capabilities. We integrated custom icons to represent the capabilities offered by Morrell Group as a whole.

Moving the Midwest

To break up the white space on the walls, we used graphics to showcase the Morrell Group locations across the Midwest. This allowed visitors to see that Morrell Group was more than just the one location they were touring.

Solutions Center

A designated Solutions Center was created to showcase components and engineered solutions. Large lettering and environmental graphics formalized the entry to the space and added excitement.

Solutions Center Interior

The Solutions Center offers guests the opportunity to discover examples of real-world solutions that Morrell Group has developed in a museum-like environment. Each of the different brands utilized by Morrell Group is showcased in such a way that visitors can see how the individual components contribute to the overall solution.

One Team, Infinite Solutions, Factory Interior

A tour through the shop floor was used to further open guest’s eyes to the more expansive solution set that Morrell Group was capable of delivering.

Goal No. 2 – Recruit & Retain Top Talent

The company competes for top talent in both engineering and manufacturing. They want prospective employees to feel that their company is a “cool place to work” while communicating their strong history,  innovations, and marketplace strengths.

Reception

The new reception area was marked with the company logo and brand color. Custom artwork was selected to reflect the brand’s emphasis on motion and bring a level of sophistication to the space.

Collaboration Lounge

During the Discovery process, we uncovered a literature room that had outlived its usefulness. Racks of unused brochures were using up space. We recommended the repurposing of this room as a collaboration lounge, a designated place where teams could come together to solve customer challenges, a place less formal than one of the conference rooms.

Moving America, Factory

Brand messaging such as “Moving America” was coined and brought to select areas to spotlight the company’s national impact and promote pride.

Break Room

A mural, brand colors, and messaging in the Break Room emphasize the most valuable component of Morrell Group – its people. To further make the point that their team members are important, significant employee achievements are recognized in the Break Room.

Goal No. 3 – One Company:  Together We Can

As we mentioned before, Morrell Group evolved through the acquisition of multiple companies. As a result, not only customers but employees often identified with the individual brands. The goal, however, was to bring everyone together as one, developing and delivering solutions that involved the group.

“Through the design process, it became clear that we needed to elevate and spotlight the identity of the Morrell Group over the sub-brands that existed. We wanted employees to identify with the Morrell Group, not just Stegner Controls or the other brands. To accomplish this, we incorporated messages like One Team. Infinite Solutions and Together We Can.”  Michael Garavaglia, Ideation Lead Designer

 

One Team, Infinite Solutions

We emphasized the power of the unified company by using large messaging in the manufacturing shop.

Morrell Group Conference Room

While sub-brands continue to exist in the marketplace given their name recognition, we designed a hierarchy that shows they are clearly part of the Morrell Group company. Consistency was brought to the sub-brands through typography and icon treatment to level the playing field. We also brought this brand hierarchy to the conference rooms.

Together We Can – Values

We further strengthened the identity of Morrell Group by designing their mission, values, and cross-brand capabilities into the main office area and other areas of the building.

Exterior Signage

Branded spaces include both the interior and exterior of a building. Exterior signage extends the brand identity to the outside of Morrell Group’s building.

“We originally contacted Ideation as we were looking for a company to help better explain Morrell Group to the people visiting our building.  Prior to working with Ideation, it was hard to determine what Morrell Group does when in our office space and conference rooms.  Jon and Michael took the time to listen to our story and how we wanted to show our company to our customers and vendors.  We worked with the Ideation team over the following weeks and months to pull together all of these details and they presented their vision for our office. 

We are now able to really show what Morrell Group believes in and where we are headed.  We also wanted to continue to invest in our people and improve the work spaces and break room for them.  We want our team to be proud of where they work and also enjoy their areas of the building.  Ideation did a great job with these areas and our team is very happy with the changes.  The quality of work from design, production and installation was fantastic.  We have had fantastic feedback from our visitors and feel Ideation helped us achieve our original goal.”  – Mark Garrett, President of Morrell Group

 

Ideation Orange is an industry leader in branding spaces using interior design, signs and environmental graphics.  If you would like more information on how your space can help you achieve your goals, contact Ideation Orange in Hazel Park, Michigan.

Photos © 2018 Gene Meadows

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…and as you know, people often judge a book by its cover.

This is because we expect the imagery on the outside to give us a glimpse of what we will experience on the inside. The same is true of businesses. People judge what they might find inside by what they see on the exterior.

The Façade Sign: A Brand Expression

Business owners often come to Ideation thinking they need an exterior sign so people can find them. Of course, they do, that’s part of it, but it’s just a part.

The façade is more than a place to put the logo that’s on your business card. Done right, it’s a brand expression that’s comprised of building architecture, materials, landscaping, messaging, lighting, and, of course, signage. All these elements work together to deliver an intentional impression.

If a retailer has three locations, each with a distinct building architecture, then they should expect exterior signage designed specifically for each building.  While more narrowly focused designers might decry brand inconsistency, we believe this presents an opportunity for a brand to be more interesting, respected and relevant. Their customers are going to be moved by the architecture, the colors, the landscaping, the windows, the lighting, and the language.

What Goes into Well-Designed Exterior Signage?

At Ideation, our design process for façade signs revolves around several key elements. These include traditional factors such as:

• Viewing Distance
• Angles
• Local Sign Ordinances
• Brand Identity
• Budget

However, it should also include less traditional factors such as company culture, surrounding visual noise, and landscape design.

Fido: An Oasis in a Visual Storm

Fido, a dog training studio on Ferndale, opened in existing building with little architectural distinction. Their stretch of Michigan’s busy and iconic Woodward Avenue was rife with visual noise. We needed a way to make them stand out in the crowd of businesses.

Our goal was to make travelers do a double take and for dog owners to smile when they drove by.

The surrounding landscape gave people passing by a bad case of visual overload. So, rather than compete with the noise, we decided to present a simple design to give the senses a rest. People’s eyes were naturally drawn to this oasis in the storm.

We accomplished this goal by painting the façade in a single dark color and presenting the name in a contrasting color. We displayed the name Fido in a simple typeface fabricated with 3” deep steel letters, and a hand-painted mural of the icon we designed.

Rarely is just putting an established logo on the front of a building the best solution. In this case, we separated the letters from the dog icon. This allowed us to maximize the size of the letters for visibility while turning the dog image into a separate eye-popping element.

In this instance, the building front had a peculiarity in the shape, with an angled wall adjacent to the door.

“The very abstract image of the dog was designed to reflect the essential elements of all dogs without being breed specific. I wanted to speak to lovers of all dog breeds.” Michelle Lannoo, Lead Designer

Birmingham Chocolate: a Magical Experience

The objective was to bring a bring out the sense of wonder and magic of this boutique chocolatier in downtown Birmingham, Michigan.

As we considered the design of the store sign, we realized that the existing architecture style contributed to the brand and desired experience. Accordingly, our retail signage played more of an embellishing role.

“While words like artisan and handmade chocolates are true to this product, they’ve become overused words and less meaningful when defining a brand. Instead, we focused on the more magical words of Curiosity, Imagination, Discovery – words shared by head chocolatier and owner, Doug Hale as he was describing his business and approach.” Michelle Lannoo, Lead Designer.

We decided to paint the rectangular-brick inset area behind the façade letters both for aesthetic reasons as well as to maximize the visual impact of the sign. While the previous signs at this location filled that spot in with a traditional aluminum or plastic sign material with affixed letters, this just introduced another unnecessary element to the façade. We felt that in this case, less would be more. The original brick was the original building design and a much more beautiful element. Plus, the city did not consider the painted brick as part of the sign. This allowed us to increase the size of the letters to the maximum square footage allowed.

Motormouth Pediatric Dentistry: Attracting New Patients and Staff

The objective was to brand the exterior of a new pediatric dental practice so that it attracted new patients as well as staff.

The building was an extensive remodel with a brand new exterior designed by a local architect. With the Motormouth name and theme already in place, Ideation developed a logo and designed a façade sign and other signage to complement the new building exterior. In the first year, the building’s exterior has in fact been a top contributor to both new patients as well as staff.

The yellow returns (or sides) to the letters have unified the sign with the architecture. We accomplished this by bringing in the same yellow color used for the striping on the building. The custom-designed toothbrush and Checkered flag graphic with the message, “Building Big Smiles in the Motor City” applied to the front windows. This provided another element to attract attention while helping to position the business and bring definition to the Motormouth name.

Ideation Orange turns building exteriors and facades into brand expressions. If you would like more information on how your exterior signage can help you achieve your goals, contact Ideation Orange in Hazel Park, Michigan.

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Their new CME houses the most modern, cutting-edge equipment and robotics available. The equipment is similar to what their students can expect to find in the world’s leading manufacturing facilities. With the aid of this equipment, the school trains students for careers in advanced automation.  

Ideation’s objective was to inspire prospective students as they moved through the space.  We wanted students to see and believe that working in manufacturing could be a cool career with great pay and that Lansing Community College would be a great place to start.   

This was a placemaking project focused on turning a facility into a place people wanted to belong to.

First Impressions

As students enter the building, we wanted them to recognize that the space is highly-specialized and designed specifically for them.  We also wanted them to see and believe that manufacturing is both sophisticated and modern.

To achieve this, we used several different design elements.  

• Oversized, yellow safety striping typically found on plant floors.
• Larger than life images of real people handling advanced technology.
• The use of metal as well as dark, warm gray colors and finishes that look like steel.
• Patterns to communicate order and precision
• Scale – big factory spaces require big elements

First, we designed and fabricated metal panels to frame a digital display wall in the main lobby area.  The panels were engineered to be installed with no visible hardware but allow for easy removal when the displays needed servicing.  The perforation pattern we used is a design element throughout the space.

When Harley Ellis Devereaux designed the architecture for the space, the firm included unique features that presented us with some interesting environmental graphic design opportunities.  

Here, we communicated “BUILD YOUR FUTURE” on an “accordion wall” near the entrance to greet prospective students and welcome back the enrolled. This was one of just a few simple, powerful messages communicated in the space.

Next, larger-than-life murals of young people working in advanced manufacturing environments brought future careers to life. We printed murals on wall coverings with a metallic steel texture.

In this mural, our main character uses a tablet-style computer; technology students were familiar with.

66 unique industrial icons were designed to create an art piece that connects the video gaming culture many prospective students come from, with a technological future.

According to Ideation Lead Designer, Michelle Lannoo, “In many video games, as players progress through the game, they accumulate strengths, powers, and assets represented by icons added to their dock. I wanted to symbolize the strengths, powers, and assets that students of CME achieve as they work through their program.”  

Inside the Factory

Inside the manufacturing space, we wanted to bring focused energy and excitement to an environment that seems both complicated and visually chaotic.  We did this in a very simple, but cost-effective way, with building blocks of painted wall striping, spare bold messages, and fabric banners.

“Our design needed to be simple, big and cohesive.  Small signage, random posters and busy banners wouldn’t do it.  They’d only add easily forgotten clutter.” Michelle Lannoo, Ideation Lead Designer

The large scale of (7) 14’ tall vertical banners spaced 37” apart made a big impression while communicating order and precision.  

We branded the space that housed the fully-automated robotic assembly line known as a Flexible Manufacturing Unit as “The Flex.” The American flag featured throughout the space promotes pride in advanced American manufacturing.  Here we painted the flag on the ceiling.

Plant safety is always a top concern in manufacturing. Here we used another simple, but powerful, statement while continuing to brand the space with bold colors.

While robotics play a big role in manufacturing, so do people.  We painted the words “Innovate, Create, Diagnose, Install, Repair, Maintain”  on the overhead ducts to call out the role of a modern manufacturing specialist.  

Finally, a series of custom-designed mobile pylons communicated the stages of manufacturing in the Flex.

Sweating the Details

Getting from design concepts to installation involved a lot of details.    

Left: A prototype of the perforated panel to surround the digital display wall in the lobby ensured an optimal fit as well as an installation that would involve no visible fasteners.  

Right:  The CME lobby sign, fabricated from aluminum, wrapped a wall after we bent it 90-degrees.  We routed the logo out of .25” thick aluminum and painted with high-gloss yellow.

Custom fabricated pylons featured neon yellow acrylic.  We also incorporated the Center for Manufacturing Excellence brand.  The metal base incorporated the same straight row perforation pattern used as a design element throughout.  

We cut and applied code from the student’s robotics manual to the window using a frosted vinyl.

Fabrication of the surround to the digital display wall in progress.  

We achieved installation of custom-printed wall coverings with the aid of laser marking and leveling.  

The Impact of Placemaking

 “LCC has been highly involved in ambient learning and creating visually appealing spaces throughout our campuses. So when we decided to add a robotics lab and create the Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME) we knew we needed it to be outstanding in design.

We wanted the spaces to express the feeling of what new cutting-edge manufacturing facilities look like, while also inspiring and educating students. Plus we wished to include a bit of fun and flare.

Ideation delivered all of this on point. Their team truly made the spaces connect and they were mindful in delivering timeless design features. Students want to be in the spaces now, they are collaborating and staying on campus. It’s exactly what we had envisioned and hoped for. Additionally, other visitors including legislators, teachers and community leaders are blown away by our facility and its design.

We are proud to offer this training facility to the mid-Michigan community and we are so thankful to have found ideation who delivered such care and dedication to this project.” 

– Tonya Causley, Project Coordinator, President’s Office, Lansing Community College 

Ideation Orange is an industry leader in branding spaces using interior design, signs and environmental graphics.  If you would like more information on how your space can help you achieve your goals, contact Ideation Orange in Hazel Park, Michigan.

Photos © 2018 Gene Meadows

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To accomplish these goals, Ideation used a combination of environmental graphic design,  custom signage  and handpainted graphics. Ideation’s designer simplified the IBEW seal so that it would reproduce better and promote their brand identity.

Michelle Lannoo, head designer of the Detroit IBEW Local 58 project, was able to give some insight into how the use of branded space helped IBEW tell their story.

“The first step in any project is the experience audit. We meet with the client to learn what story should be conveyed and then we evaluate the space.”

This experience audit is one of the most important aspects of any project. Having a clear vision of the end goal and the hurdles that may get in the way, make a project flow smoothly and stay on budget. Once everyone shares a common vision, then it’s time to roll up the sleeves and make it a reality.

The Canvas

Telling a story with pictures starts with the canvas. The IBEW building was newly renovated, with large open rooms, and blank walls. To reduce the feeling of ‘too much space,’ the architect had incorporated several interesting wall features. These unique features presented both challenges and opportunities for Ideation’s designer.

Branding Walls

“First, we cropped the seal and focused on the clenched fist. The fist denoted the power of the electrical workers and the combined strength of their brotherhood.” – Michelle Lannoo, Head Designer, Ideation

The walls were painted a gray and the seal was handpainted on using a lighter gray. The two-tone colors were chosen to break up the starkness of the long walls. They subtle graphics drew the eye but do not take away from the more vivid colors of signs and graphics Ideation wanted to showcase.

Tying Together the Exterior and Interior Design

We wanted the design of the interior to connect with the exterior of the building. The copper color, appropriate for electrical workers, that was used outside needed to be brought inside. The best way to do this was to use copper coloring on the dimensional letters and walls.

To take the metallic theme even further, Ideation’s designer knew she wanted to use steel signs on the walls.

Since the images on the signs needed to tell the story of the organization, Michelle wanted to incorporate actual photos from the union members instead of stock photography.

“Rather than using professional photography or stock images, we were able to use personal photos. By styling the images and printing on metal, the quality did not suffer and that ‘personal’ feeling we hoped for was achieved.” – Michelle Lannoo, Head Designer, Ideation

One of the challenges presented by the architecture was that the walls were not flat. Rather than downplay this element, Ideation sought to work with the architecture and emphasize the unique feature.

Innovation in Design

To craft the signs, the quality of the pictures needed to be addressed. Many of the photos had been taken with worker’s phones. Ideation found that superimposing the images on metal signs compensated for any fuzziness or pixelation. The texture of the metal base worked well with the image quality and gave an old world feel to the pictures. Since they had already decided that metal signs would work well in the branded space.

The second hurdle was how to hang the images so that they worked with the unique architecture of the walls. Michelle, the head designer, wanted to try wrapping the signs around the corners of the wall. Unfortunately, typical sign-making techniques did not work in this application.

After trying several different methods, Ideation was able to come up with a prototype that worked. By putting the images on clear vinyl and then applying the vinyl to the steel panels underneath, they were able to bend the images around the corner of the wall without losing perspective or integrity.

Using this process of putting images onto metal, it was possible to use an old photo of the Founding Fathers of the IBEW Local 58 to create a grouping of signs on the wall. The coloring and visual appeal of the photo also promoted the overall message of the branded space. Family, history, brotherhood, and a feeling of permanence would reach those that the IBEW hoped to recruit.

Communicating Brand Identity

Not only did the IBEW want to share their story with those inside their building, but they wanted to communicate their brand to those outside. The IBEW Local 58 frequently holds news conferences. Because of this, an amazing opportunity to take their branded space and share it with a broader audience presented itself.

The stage area where they film interviews and presentation was bland. The thought was ‘let’s incorporate the branding into the backdrop so it would represent the brand identity in every broadcast’.

With that in mind, Ideation handpainted supersized graphics on the wall behind the podium. Dimensional letters, painted a metallic color, were placed to the side of the stage. The result was that there was always something of interest in the background showing from every camera angle.

Branded Space Tells the Whole Story

To complete the story,  IBEW Local 58 also wanted to communicate the energy-efficiency of their building. Since many of those features, like insulation, stay hidden behind the walls and out of sight, we highlighted them for visitors on a story wall.

A series of signs communicated the value of Zero Net Energy to the organization. Ideation placed these signs on the entry wall, so that, when a visitor enters the building, they can see that the building itself is a reflection of IBEW’s views on progress.

Upon the project’s completion, both the designer and the client felt that the branded space successfully communicated the IBEW Local 58 purpose, mission, and history to the members and visitors.

Ideation Orange leads the industry in creating branded space and brand identity using signs and environmental graphics. If you would like more information on how your space can better communicate your story, contact Ideation Orange in Hazel Park, Michigan.

Photos © 2018 Gene Meadows

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Customer Engagement and Branding

Ideally, a restaurant wants patrons. Patrons are regular customers that adopt a place as their own. They are the best sources of advertisement and help keep the restaurant profitable. The trick is finding these patrons and making sure that they keep coming back.

Restaurant branding is one way to engage these customers. Branding tells a story and once a person feels that they are part of that story, they become invested. It is no longer ‘your’ restaurant. Instead, it becomes theirs. They start to feel the pride of ownership and want to show off their ‘new possession’ to others.

But, of course, the first step is to bring them to your restaurant for the first time.

Branding and Exterior Signage

Typically, people will only try a new restaurant after several touches with the brand. They might have heard about it from a friend or seen it advertised. Perhaps they read reviews or viewed the exterior signage as they drove down the road.

Something or several somethings caught their eye and moved them from being unaware of the brand to an interested prospect. At some point, they make their first micro-yes and decide to give your restaurant a try.

Branded Space Inside the Restaurant

When that first-time visitor crosses the threshold of your restaurant, he has expectations. The first impression, that moment when he views the interior space of your eatery is when he starts evaluating his experience.

Space, architecture, decor, environmental graphics, and even wayfinding signs tell the story of your establishment. If there is harmony between elements, then it engages. If there is discord, it leaves a feeling of unease or dissatisfaction.

Ideally, the branded space inside the restaurant will meet the expectations set before the person entered. Outdoor signs should complement indoor signs and design should stay consistent throughout the building.

Creating Cohesion Between Branding and Design

Most restaurant startups employ several different teams to help build their brand identity. They may use an interior designer, an architect, and a custom sign company.  When these groups can work together to create an interrelated design, then the overall brand experience improves.

The key to creating a seamless experience for patrons or guests is collaboration.

Tips for Collaboration

Gather all the involved parties early in the project and communicate the vision for your brand. Note any particular issues that might affect other teams. For instance, will window placement make it challenging to hang outdoor restaurant signs? Does ADA compliance require signage in a place where the decorator wanted a mural?

Have regular meetings to reinforce the story behind the restaurant branding. Each group should share its discoveries and brainstorm how to incorporate these points into the brand identity.

Understand that the overall story is more important than any one element. In other words, egos may need to be checked at the door. When certain obstacles crop up, it takes everyone to find a solution.

Ideation – A Restaurant Branding Company

If you hope to convey your branding inside and outside your restaurant, Ideation can help put together a sign plan that brands the space so that it matches your architecture and design.

“Too often, companies spend a lot of money on new signs without considering the role their brand identity can play in their space.” – Daren Bossenberger, Ideation Founder

Ideation Orange works with restaurants in Michigan, across the United States, and around the world. If you are interested in how environmental design can help you created branded space, contact Ideation Orange for a consultation.

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Environmental Design Tells a Story

A congregation identifies strongly with its church home. Often the very architecture of the church can give visitors a sense of what they will find inside the walls. Is it a conservative church? Will they speak a traditional message? Are they more contemporary? After all, you would not expect to walk into St. Paul’s Cathedral and find wayfinding signs sporting a Comic Sans font. Even if you did not understand why it felt wrong, your brain would still pick up on the lack of design cohesion.

Not only do signs say something about the church as a body but they also communicate the message of the church.  You would not want to trivialize the spoken words by using imagery that does not strengthen what is taught. This is why wayfinding signs and environmental graphics are so vital. Environmental graphic designers take all of this into consideration when designing custom signs for churches.

Blending New Signs with Old Architecture

A perfect example the how signs play an important role in the ‘feel’ of a church is Kirk in the Hills Church. One of the challenges presented by church officials was to create a sign plan that worked with their existing architecture. Kirk in the Hills contracted the Environmental Design team at Ideation to create a wayfinding system that preserved the ‘feel’ of their church.

At Kirk of the Hills, everyone wanted to preserve the architecture’s role in establishing the church’s brand identity. Several of the areas of the church were of particular importance. The entrance to the original chapel and the Tower of the Apostles required just the right signage to preserve the sense of respect that the rooms themselves commanded.

A Classic Message and a Modern Church

Other churches may not have the Gothic architecture of Kirk of the Hills, but their need to move people both physically and spiritually was the same.

For instance, the Kensington Church Campus in Troy MI gives us an example of how two churches can share the same message in different ways. Yet, just from the signs, one knows that the ‘feel’ of the churches is different. That is what environmental design is about.

Signage for Environmental Design

Many people know that visual content is a valuable tool, but not many know why it’s so important.

Data shows that images reach an individual’s brain faster than textual information or audio. In fact, a person’s brain is programmed to recognize and make sense of visual information more efficiently.

If you consider body language, traffic signs, maps, facial cues, and advertisements, then it’s not hard to see how we have adapted to visual cues.

Knowing this, environmental graphic designers produce many different types of signs for churches. These visual cues help reach people faster and easier.  This could even be in the form of a story wall like the one at Woodside Church in Royal Oak MI.

No matter what your church building looks like or the feeling you hope to convey, environmental designers like those at Ideation can put together a sign plan that builds a brand identity for your church.

Too often, companies spend a lot of money on new signs without considering the role their brand identity can play in their space.

– Daren Bossenberger, Ideation Founder

Ideation Orange works with churches in Michigan, across the United States, and around the world. If you are interested in how environmental design can help you created branded space, contact Ideation Orange for a consultation.

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Kirk in the Hills Church (Bloomfield Hills, MI) is of Gothic design and patterned after the famous Melrose Abbey in Scotland that was built in the 13^th Century.

The new welcome center was identified with anodized aluminum letters given a bronze finish.  Photos © 2017 Gene Meadows.

A WAYFINDING CHALLENGE:  NOT ENOUGH DIRECTIONAL SIGNS

Discussions with team members from Kirk in the Hills identified several challenges affecting the guest experience. One of these challenges was the lack of interior directional signage. Recent changes to how space was being utilized further complicated navigation and was the impetus for the project.

New floor identification and directory signs designed to direct and complement the interior design. Photo © 2017 Gene Meadows.

A WAYFINDING CHALLENGE:  UNMARKED ROOMS AND AREAS

Another challenge to a comfortable guest experience was unmarked rooms and common areas.  To make matters worse, many of these destinations had taken on different names over the history of the church – the same room was often referred to differently by different people.

This challenge was addressed by defining clear names for each room and area, identifying the area with a sign and referring to it consistently in directional signs and floor maps.

Destinations are now clearly identified with designated room names. Photo © 2017 Gene Meadows.

A WAYFINDING CHALLENGE:  YEARS OF SPACE EVOLUTION

The third challenge to a comfortable guest experience was some navigational confusion resulting from multiple architectural expansions over time. For example, the Abbey was built and connected to the older Kirk House structure. To get to level 2 of the Kirk House, one has to ascend stairs from level 2 of the Abbey. This was confusing to guests and was addressed with clear strategically placed signage.

A combination of strategically placed directional signs, floor directories and area identification signs resolved navigational uncertainty.  Photos © 2017 Gene Meadows.

LETTING ARCHITECTURE LEAD

When performing our initial Experience Audit of the interior, the Ideation design team made several observations that would influence the final design of the wayfinding signage.  One of these was the significant role architecture was already playing in shaping the guest experience.

There were several areas such as the entrance to the original chapel and the Tower of the Apostles that needed to be treated very respectfully. The architecture—comprised of marble, stone, leaded glass and stained glass—shaped the experience.  While signage was needed, it must not detract from the existing architectural beauty.

The entrance to Kirk in the Hills’ iconic Tower of the Apostles was identified with bronze letters while the entrance to the original chapel was marked with a more appropriate plaque style sign. Photos © 2017 Gene Meadows.

BALANCING THE OLD AND NEW

The Ideation design team also recognized that there was clearly both an “old” and “newer” look inside the church.  While much of the interior had the original 13^th Century gothic style, more recently added spaces had a more modern feel. Our wayfinding sign designs would need to traverse both of these styles gracefully.

We accomplished this by defining a collection of materials, colors, and finishes that would work well in both the traditional and newer spaces. From these materials, we designed 22 different sign types. We then created a simpler variation of the sign types for the older or more traditional spaces.  Typography was used consistently across both old and new spaces.

New Abbey lounge invites guests and members to live, love and linger.  Photos © 2017 Gene Meadows.

DESIGN FOR APPROACHABILITY

The recently updated spaces, such as the new Abbey lounge, were designed to create a more informal and communal environment. While the new signage throughout the church needed to respect its surrounding architecture, reduced formality was also a goal.

In the spirit of this, lower case lettering was used in all signs except when referring to “Kirk in the Hills.”  The message, Live, Love, Linger was added using dimensional letters in the Abbey lounge.

Room identification signs for the administrative offices. Photo © 2017 Gene Meadows.

Exterior entrance identification signs produced from cast aluminum plaques. Photo © 2017 Gene Meadows.

SUMMARY

The final solution was comprised of 200 unique signs produced from 22 different sign types. According to lead designer, Michael Garavaglia, “It was thrilling to work with such a significant architectural landmark in the community. Our goal was to come up with a solution that respected both the architectural heritage of the church and the forward momentum of the community inside it. It required a measured approach that was both systematic and flexible.”

If you need help bringing comfort and clarity to your space, we’d be happy to help. Contact us.

The post Wayfinding Signage: Navigating Old and New Architecture appeared first on Ideation.

What Is a Branded Environment?

A branded environment extends a company’s brand identity to their physical building. In other words, the logo, typography, colors, and images used to define a brand become part of their building structure. This happens through the use of environmental graphics, wayfinding signs, and interior and exterior signs. Specialty signs such as donor walls just add another chapter to the company’s story.

Branded space incorporates other things besides signs. The architecture, lighting, and landscaping also play an important role in creating a branded environment.

Our friends at Lovio George, a Detroit-based boutique communications and design agency contacted us to help brand their client’s new office. Custom signage incorporated the company logo and also reflected the upscale design of the firm’s architectural elements.

For another example of how a building’s architecture and its signage can work together, let’s take a look at Kirk in the Hills Church.

Church leaders contacted Ideation to help create a more comfortable guest experience using wayfinding signage that complemented the original architecture and also more recently updated spaces.

Branded Environments Leave an Impression

A branded environment or branded space creates a long-lasting impression on your visitors. Consider the Biltmore Hotel. Known for its opulence and decor, it’s important that wayfinding signs complement the brand. Signs guide people through the estate. However, the last thing you would want them to do is to detract from the architecture, which is the draw.

You visitor’s physical experience often invokes emotions that become associated with your location. For a vacation destination, these positive feelings can mean returning patrons and word-of-mouth advertising. Branded environments reach people across multiple channels and through different sensory inputs.

How to Meld Your Brand Identity and Your Building

Determining what you need and where it should go depends on a building’s architecture,  ADA requirements, sight lines, traffic patterns, local sign codes, and interior design.

If you own a business in Metro Detroit, Birmingham, Lansing, or the surrounding area, Ideation Signs can help you create a plan for your branded environment. Call 248.399.4332 to find out more.

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Outdoor Signs to Maximize Impact

In it’s simplest function, outdoor signs tell people where you are.  What’s the best form of outdoor sign?  Well that depends on sight lines, viewing distances, surrounding visual noise, and city sign ordinances.

Cacao Tree, a local cafe, was presented with a problem. Because of the way their building was situated, only a small amount of their storefront faced the street. This made it difficult for people to find them. They came to us for business signage ideas and one solution we recommended was the projecting blade sign. By placing the blade signs at the corner of the buildings, we were able to draw the eyes of hungry pedestrians. To further distinguish them from the surrounding buildings, we used façade lettering and window graphics.

Reception Signs

First impressions mean a lot. A reception sign sets the tone for your client’s visit and can influence their perception of your services.

The team at DeClaire LaMacchia Orthopaedic Institute was looking for custom signage to bring their brand to their space while respecting the interior design. Working with their branding agency, we integrated their logo as a reception sign using a variety of metal finishes that complemented their interior design while creating a stunning first impression.

Wayfinding Signs

Large public buildings, like hospitals, apartment buildings, and hotels need wayfinding signs to direct people to their destinations. If your company moves large groups of people around your facility, then you need to make sure that the appropriate signage is in place. Many of those signs have ADA compliance requirements.

Outfield Lofts, in Lansing MI, needed both a wayfinding sign system and ADA compliant signs for their loft-style apartment building. The solution we delivered also contributed to their overall design rather than just meeting the functional requirements.

“Beyond the traditional value of making sure people know where to go when visiting and being an ADA compliant solution, our design added value to the environment by serving as an artistic element. Our goal was that the custom signage and environment would make residents proud to live there and visitors want to live there.” Jon Moses, Ideation

Digital Displays and Other Specialty Signs

There are times when businesses are faced with unique situations that can be fixed with business signs. For instance, Logicalis used a large amount of glass for interior walls. They did not want to block the open feel of their space, but they did desire a bit of privacy for their meeting rooms. Special graphics helped break up the large glass walls without blocking the light. They also preserved the feeling of openness.

In addition, they had a need for signage that told the story of their business. Integrating interactive digital displays, Ideation was able to bring their story to their space using a combination of static and dynamic digital content.  Since Logicalis is a technology company, the use of the digital displays was a perfect fit.

More Business Signage Ideas

The business signs we showcased here are only a few of our designs. Each business is unique and so is your story. We like to create signage that tells that story in a unique way. Let’s collaborate and put together a portfolio of business signage ideas tailored specifically for your company. Call today for more information.

The post 4 Business Signage Ideas for Your Company appeared first on Ideation.