Wayfinding Masterplan
Royal Roads serves both as an academic institution and a public destination. The masterplan addressed varied user needs by defining key arrival points, organizing pedestrian and vehicle flow, and identifying decision-making locations. This framework informed a signage system that applies consistent design standards across diverse site conditions, from gardens and heritage buildings to academic facilities and forest trails. The result is a unified masterplan that can guide signage implementation across the diverse needs of a 260-hectare university campus and historic site.
Brand Visibility
Inconsistent application and aging signs had diluted the university’s visual identity across campus. The updated program aligns with current brand guidelines while creating a timeless system that maintains clarity even as visual styles evolve. A limited colour palette, drawn from the core brand, ensures consistency across the signage family and reinforces a unified look. To support placemaking, a secondary RRU mark was introduced for use in high-impact zones, such as campus entrances and major wayfinding elements. Interior applications remix brand forms into abstract mosaic graphics, activating shared spaces with a distinctive visual language rooted in the university’s identity.
Informed Design
Disconnected signage and varied site conditions called for an informed design approach. Site audits captured circulation patterns, vehicular zones, pedestrian access, and infrastructure constraints. These findings grounded the design strategy in real operational needs and supported the prioritization of sign types, placements, and messaging across the campus.
Co-Designed with Campus Community
Staff, faculty, and students helped shape the system through structured workshops. Exercises included memory mapping, empathy matrices, and site evaluations to uncover how users experience the campus and where wayfinding breaks down. Staff identified key landmarks and circulation gaps, while students, including international cohorts, raised issues around parking, building naming, and navigation. These findings guided decisions around terminology, message hierarchy, and sign placement. The result is a signage program grounded in real user experience and operational needs.
Visual Guides
Navigating Royal Roads’ expansive and varied landscape requires clear and accessible orientation tools. A custom campus map was developed to reflect the natural terrain, roadways, buildings, and amenities, with travel times and distances to help users plan efficient routes. Accessible parking and pathways are clearly marked to support users with mobility challenges. A tailored suite of pictograms reinforces key messages across signage, designed to be easily understood and relevant to the campus environment. Together, these tools enhance wayfinding while promoting safety and inclusivity for all visitors.
