Royal Roads University
Located in one of Canada’s most beautiful National Historic Sites, Royal Roads University has a history of excellence and provides its many local and international students an opportunity to learn and grow on a beautiful campus.
Cygnus was hired to conduct a full audit of existing campus signage, including core campus and trails, and to provide a signage strategy that includes audit findings, key wayfinding decision points, and design recommendations for signage types.
Before Cygnus began conceptualizing on a design approach, it was important that pertinent input and data be collected from the staff & faculty, students and other key stakeholder groups. The objectives were to promote engagement and awareness, solicit feedback and identify any general concerns. Our engagement strategies consisted of 3 interactive exercises to help inform us of the current state of signage on-site.
Accessibility and ease of use are crucial elements when planning signage for a public institution. The purpose of pictograms is to convey a universal message that is easily understood by all. Cygnus developed a unique pictogram family that is specifically tailored to the resources and amenities that the Royal Roads campus offers, with a directed focus on the guiding principle of improving access and safety for all visitors.
Signage is one of the most prevalent ways that visitors interact with a brand. Spread across hundreds of individual touch-points, integration of a brand into a signage program establishes cohesion across a large campus. Cygnus proposed a narrow selection of colours from the brand guidelines for use across the signage family. This limited colour palette creates strong visual consistency and ensures the signs serve as a unifying element across the campus.
