Interview about HWG Campus LU Wayfinding System, winner of the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award 2025
The aim was to create a system with its own identity and originality. The signage and information system therefore has a clear design language and picks up on architectural elements of the new building. A colour concept facilitates orientation. It welcomes and informs students outside (car park, campus), guides them to the entrances and inside the buildings to the desired departments and facilities. The focus is on legibility, accessibility and recognition. A solution was developed that does not follow short-lived trends, but is durable in form and materiality.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe idea was to bring together the design elements essential for communication and the architectural elements in one large framework. The frame combines all the elements that are important for orientation and is also a recognizable element.
The color concept is based on the blue façade color of the new building. It is important that the contrast between the anthracite background and the chosen colors is also optimal for people with visual impairments.
The robustness and durability of the materials were decisive factors in the selection process. Concrete panels, which are usually used as façade panels, stove-enamelled aluminum elements and solid-colored acrylic glass were used. It was important to choose materials with a matt surface in order to avoid reflections and ensure optimum legibility.
A bilingual system (German/English) was developed for the university. The use of pictograms ensures international comprehensibility. These visual symbols convey information without language barriers.
It is important to develop solutions that do not follow short-lived trends and appear outdated by the time they are implemented. The result of our work is a no-frills design that is reduced to the essentials and has its own identity.
There is a tactile overview plan both in the outdoor area (campus plan) and on the first floor of the new building (overview plan). This is connected to the tactile guidance system from the site boundary. This gives students an overview of the entire campus and the facilities in the new building. The information is written in Braille and pyramid writing. The same applies to the door signs and handrail lettering. The entire planning was coordinated with a representative for people with disabilities.
Optimal legibility is the top priority for a signage system. Roboto is a neo-grotesque sans-serif font family developed by Google. Roboto is a variable font family that offers a comfortable and smooth reading experience. It is minimalist and highly functional and suitable for a wide range of optical sizes thanks to the extensive selection of weights and widths.
The backlit elements were laser-cut from aluminum panels and backed with acrylic glass panels in various colors. The illumination is provided by LEDs. Due to the dark aura, the backlit information can be optimally recognized.
Even though navigation using smartphones continues to advance, our system for the HWG campus is an important part of finding your way around. The physical landmarks create trust and security.
The guidance system is important for visitors and newly arrived students every semester. It should convey a feeling of trust and security. It should take seekers by the hand, guide them, accompany them and make the space tangible until they reach their destination. This creates identification and identity.
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