The recent design trend sweeping education institutions has been focused on signage and wayfinding as schools modernise their facilities and branding. Last year, the University of the Arts London’s rebrand and the University of the Arts Helsinki branding were both implemented with a fresh approach to wayfinding. In January, Leeds-based design agency Signlex introduced colourful supergraphics to Dudley College in the West Midlands during their awareness push.

Signlex, perhaps most known for its work on the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park which included bright and clear wayfinding and a ceiling full of books, has expanded its work in the education sector since.

Businesses have been embracing more graphically interesting wayfinding in the office environment for a few years now. Orange recently launched a massive internal rebrand that introduced colourful and witty graphics to its offices around the world as a means of boosting employee engagement. Internal comms teams are no stranger to this.

The education sector, on the other hand, has only just begun to examine its internal branding. The recent push to ensure the government’s support of design in the national curriculum may have been an encouragement. Schools also, as in Dudley’s case, must increasingly differentiate themselves from their competitors; a cognizant approach to internal design can help achieve that.

Signlex is set to begin work on five new school and college projects across a range of age groups and geographic areas.

Simon Belton, MD of Signlex, says, “The signage industry is fiercely competitive, but due to our unique team of specialists with 80 years combined experience in the signage industry, we are able to provide our clients with a depth of knowledge and strong customer service, which is helping us to achieve this success.”