Key Dates
Image Credit : Max Creasy
Project Commissioner
London College of Communication (UAL)
Project Creator
Project Overview
Wayfinding solution for one of London's best-known and influential design colleges. Domenic Lippa and his team have developed a wayfinding solution for the London College of Communication. LCC is one of the UK’s most well-known and influential design colleges with alumni including: Neville Brody, Jefferson Hack and Lippa himself, who studied there in the 1980s. Now part of the University of the Arts London, it has been at its Elephant & Castle location since 1962.
Team
Domenic Lippa Associate and Designer - Jeremy Kunze Production - Standard 8
Project Brief
Following his redesign of the UAL identity in 2013, Lippa was asked by LCC’s Head of College, Natalie Brett, to look at a new wayfinding solution for their current site (the college plans to re-locate to a new purpose built site in 2020). Its existing signage was a mixture of the previous environmental graphics scheme - which had fallen into disrepair - and A4 photocopies.
LCC began as the London College of Printing; it changed its name to signify its growing remit that now includes photography, film and public relations. Because its increasing offerings, one of the biggest challenges was the adhoc way that the current site had been developed.
With this in mind Lippa and Jeremy Kunze (Associate and designer) needed to establish a first-hand understanding of the unique functions of each building and where information was most needed.
Project Innovation/Need
The resulting wayfinding solution is extremely adaptable. The material palette is inspired by one LCC’s key principles – a dedication to “making” and physical design.
The signage can be fixed onto any wall type without the need for a massive redecoration programme. It uses a consistent background plate, made from perforated powder-coated aluminum, which helps visitors identify signage.
These become a platform for room types and directional signs to be screwed on top of. Colour coding has also been introduced to signify the college’s four main areas. Small naming alterations have been introduced to further simplify the system. Helvetica has been used to create a consistency between the College and UAL’s overall identity.
Design Challenge
Sustainability
Wayfinding
This award celebrates creative and innovative design in the ways people orient themselves in physical space, and navigate from place to place. Consideration given to signage and other graphic communication, clues in the building's spatial grammar, logical space planning, audible communication, tactile elements and provision for special-needs users.
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