Downtown Wayfinding Program
Project Update - March 2008! Mock-up signs are up!!
In December 2006 the DDA selected Corbin Design to create a comprehensive wayfinding program for downtown. Corbin explains wayfinding as direction for people in motion, and believes that a properly designed wayfinding system integrates with surrounding architecture, landscaping, and lighting, making it easier for people to access and understand environments. The design and installation of a wayfinding signage system will help visitors to Ann Arbor, both drivers and pedestrians, find their way easily to the downtown and then navigate to downtown districts, key points of interest, and nearby parking.
Corbin has developed wayfinding programs for more than 30 cities and downtowns across America, many with colleges or universities. They are a Michigan firm, based in Traverse City, and have created wayfinding signage systems for over 10 cities in Michigan alone, including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Lansing.
To date the Corbin Design Team has conducted initial fact-finding and analysis, such as; identifying wayfinding issues and opportunities including existing street signs, electronic/other visitor communications, points of entry and circulation flow, and list of destinations. This information has been compiled in the "Wayfinding Analysis and Recommendations Document for Ann Arbor, Michigan."
On April 24, 2007, the public was invited to comment on initial design conceptualization for the Downtown Ann Arbor Wayfinding Program. Corbin Design brought the following three concepts for review and feedback.
Based on input during the meeting, as as well as feedback that came in after the meeting, Corbin Design incorporated the public input into the more refined design concept shown below. This sign family was presented to the public on June 21, 2007, and by posting these to our website, we’re inviting further feedback from the public at large.
- Refined Sign Family - Blue Color Study
- Explanation of Design Rationale
- MDOT Highway Wayfinding Study and Recommendations
Corbin Design integrated the reactions and comments they received from community members during the second public meeting into the most recent design concept shown below.
After seeing the semi-final sign family design array, some members of the local design community wanted to provide additional feedback in a more visual manner. They held a public meeting, a design charette, and public viewings of the concepts they’d created. The concept the members of the design community were most pleased with was presented to the DDA at the November board meeting. The DDA will take this into consideration as they continue to work with Corbin toward the final design for downtown Ann Arbor’s future wayfinding system.
The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority invites members of the public to provide comments on two mock up signs that are intended to represent the appearance of future wayfinding signage elements. These mock up signs have been installed on Miller Street heading east near First Street, and on Main Street heading north toward Packard. The mockup signs installed on Miller and Main Street are the size of the larger “vehicular-level” signs, intended to be read at 25 miles per hour or so. In particular, it would be helpful to the DDA to understand if the signs appear legible and communicate clearly which direction to take to a destination. Feedback can be provided to the DDA via email at dda@a2dda.org or by phoning 734/994-6697
- Image of mock-up sign on Main Street between Madison and Packard
- Image #2 of mock-up sign on Main Street between Madison and Packard
- Image of mock-up sign on Miller near First Street
- Image #2 of mock-up sign on Miller near First Street
Below are renderings of the family of signs within the proposed wayfinding signage system: