Extensive Research:
During a 3-month period I led a team conducting research, resident and employee interviews, property tours, and usability testing to understand the role signage played in the everyday life of residents. A common finding across all properties was that signage had to be universally understandable by everyone across languages and life situations. This insight became the core philosophy in the way we communicate with residents and how the signs were designed.
For example: In our research of townhome properties, we found that the residents had difficulty receiving packages from delivery companies and pickup by rideshare apps. To remedy this residents were placing their own unit numbers outside their doors. At the time, the number plates used on townhomes were also used for apartments.
Prototyping and Testing:
Once we had a clear understanding of our sign’s philosophy, we could begin prototyping. We set conditions including: distance, viewing angle, time of day, lighting situations, and life situations. Over a period of one month, we used these constraints to create real-life mockups and tested sizes, positions, and light reflectance values of signage.
Design:
We established a simple design framework which provides for a consistent design language in accordance with the Accessible Canada Act and ADA. In conjunction we designed a custom universally understood icon set, ensured high-contrast designs based on light reflectance values and for interior signage 3D elements, including contracted braille, helped the sign stand out from the background and give it a tactile feel.