Environmental graphics ppt

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS

What is environmental graphic design?• Environmental design is a field without borders, and is therefore

commonly misunderstood. As a multidisciplinary profession merging so many different fields, it’s easy to understand how anyone not directly involved would get confused. That lack of clear definition, however, is arguably one of the profession’s strengths.

• along with the lack of clear definition and boundaries, part of the confusion stems from the many different terms they are:

• Environmental graphics,• architectural graphics,• way finding,• signage,• and super graphics

are just a few of the terms that have been used the history of our profession.

Common misconceptions about environmental graphic design

• Before we know what the term really means! We ought to know some of its misconceptions.

1. When the term environmental is used we assume its related to something about sustainability, green buildings and focusing on our environmental footprint.

2. Designing or improving the natural environment; confusion with landscape architecture or environmental engineering.

• Clearly the most widely misunderstood aspect of environmental design is that it is often mistakenly associated with sustainability and the recent “green” movement. While it’s important to consider sustainable materials and be environmentally responsible regarding our design practices, the word environmental bears no relationship to the natural environment.

DEFINITION• Environmental graphic design (EGD for short) is a design profession

embracing many design disciplines including graphic design, architecture, industrial design and landscape architecture.

• Practitioners in this field are concerned with the visual aspects of way finding, communicating identity and brands, information design, and shaping a sense of place.

• Some examples of work produced by environmental graphic designers include the design and planning of sign programs, way finding consulting, exhibit and interpretive design, entertainment environments, retail design, information design including maps, as well as memorial and donor recognition programs.

• Using the term “environmental graphic design” is a way to distinguish the practice from that of “conventional graphic design”, or rather designing in the three-dimensional environment as opposed to a two-dimensional medium such as printed paper or the screen.

HOW IT STARTED?BRIEF HISTORY:• Up until the beginning of twentieth century the art nouveau movement the design is developing parallel to architecture – skirting each other but

rarely interacting much.• In the post war economic boom of 50s and 60s design and architecture

merged further as architectural spaces grew in size and complexity.• By the 1970s the term “environmental graphic design” came to be used to describe a close relationship between architecture and communication

design.•Hybrid commercial and transportation spaces required more attention to

signage design and navigation systems.• Followed by the formation of the society for environmental graphic

design in direct response to growth of demand and profession.

EXAMPLE• One of its best examples can be

seen in station entrances for Paris new metro system designed by the architect hector guimard.

• Not only were the structures a marvel of Art Nouveau architecture, but they successfully integrated the “Metropolitan” lettering into the architecture, becoming one of the earliest, most widely recognized and documented examples of environmental graphic design.

EXAMPLE• Another recent example

can be seen in frank gehry’s architecture who tells a story in each of his projects through unique use of building forms and communication.

• Robert Venturi designs buildings that are themselves environmental graphics.

Contents of environmental graphic design• Environmental

graphic design activity has been broken out into three distinct (but overlapping) arenas, They are:

1. Signage & way finding

2. Interpretation

3. placemaking

SINAGE AND WAYFINDING• Signage and way finding programs

communicate site and navigational information to a viewer. Signage helps to identify and brand a specific place, and when used as part of a larger way finding program helps people to determine orientation and navigate a complex environment.

INTERPRETATION• Interpretive environments tell a story

or communicates an idea or theme. Most often recognized as exhibit design, it also includes projects such as historical sites or donor recognition programs.

PLACEMAKINGPlacemaking takes a more conceptual approach in that it involves designing a distinctive image for a site. It typically focuses less on communicating information and more on a site’s branding, architecture and interior design, among other things.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED• SOCIETY FOR

ENVIRONMENTAL AND GRAPHIC DESIGN [SEGD]

• SEGD is the global community of people working at the intersection of communication design and the built environment. 

• E:\SEGD_World_Tour_v4_lores.pdf

THE IMORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGN

• If you’ve ever successfully navigated a new city, arrived at the correct airport terminal or learned something new at the museum, then you’ve already demonstrated the importance of environmental design. In fact, good environmental graphic design is a good example in communicating the value and importance of design in general.

• Environmental design plays an often overlooked but rarely disputed key role in how people interact with and experience the built environment.

• As the field of environmental graphic design has grown and matured, its value and demand has increased as well.

• Well designed signage is recognized as a key contributor to increased well-being and safety.

WHAT ARE THE WORKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC

DESIGNERS?

ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC DESIGNERS• Environmental graphic designers design architectural elements that visually define facilities, and

they often offer related services such as development of promotional materials and publications. such as

• Sculpture,• landscaping elements,• fixtures,• walkways,• and signage are examples of the types of three-dimensional architectural elements that may be produced. Publications and promotional materials that reflect the facility’s identity —including• brochures,• Web sites,• uniforms,• stationery,• multimedia presentations, • custom wallpaper, • packaging, reports, • newsletters, • and user manuals— often are part of the package of services that environmental graphic design firms offer their clients.

CONCLUSITION• In the last three decades the field of

environmental graphic design has emerged• as the integration of the communications and

architecture professions.• Practitioners are creating not only a visual

language but a full sensory experience that orients users to a space and may reflect a distinct image or theme.

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