City Wide Wayfinding and Signage Design Program

In September 2002, the City contracted Carter & Burgess to analyze and make general recommendations on a citywide wayfinding and signage system that would help alleviate some of the confusion and clutter that is currently being experienced around the community. The goals of this project were to: Build recognition for a citywide wayfinding system.

• Identify and prioritize all destinations which will be displayed on the signage.
• Identify primary and secondary gateways to the City.
• Identify primary and secondary general traffic flows throughout the City.
• Establish a separate identity for Districts and Neighborhoods.
• Create a uniform and recognizable identification system for parking decks and surface lots.
• Establish consistent nomenclature and terminology for use on all applicable signage.
• Reduce current citywide sign clutter.
• Minimize legal signs and consolidate where needed.
• Increase visibility of signage by using common shapes, and appropriate placement and sizing of elements.
• Limit directional messaging to 2 - 3 messages per direction.
• Establish graphic consistency for message organization, color usage, typography, and symbols.
• Establish directories as a recognizable icon of information.

The report was completed in the Spring of 2004, and is available for viewing at the Planning Division.

Gateway signs have been installed at the North and South boundaries of Woodward Avenue, East and West boundaries of Maple Road and at secondary gateways: Southfield/Fourteen Mile & Lincoln/Cranbrook.

Information Directories will soon be installed at Shain Park, Booth Park, Downtown, and at all parking decks.

For more information on this project, please contact the Planning Division.