Environmental Graphic Design Explained with 10 Examples

Environmental graphic design converses with your audience through a visual experience by maximising the use of physical space. However, a minimal effort might be a double-edged sword for the designers. We’ve summarised all about it and provided several examples, so your design can be more interactive and effective.

Key Takeaways:

• Graphic design pleases the audience not only with sensory delight but also with pictorial communication to represent the environmental essence of graphic design.
• Some common types of this particular graphic design are informative signage, wayfinding systems, digital displays, murals, and wall and glass graphics 

What is Environmental Graphic Design​?

Sylvia Mauro, Senior Vice President of DGI Communication, explains that environmental graphic design integrates various features, such as architectural and industrial elements, to create interactive spaces that influence both your audience and the environment. 

5 Common Types of Environmental Graphic Design​ Used

Adam Fabianski, a professional expert in industrial design at Bridgewater Studio, states that there are numerous types of this particular graphic design category, depending on the needs. Still, branding projects tend to revolve around these five types below.

1. Informative Signage 

Signage elements containing information to mark specific areas, and also part of tools for wayfinding systems. It can also be more detailed, like opening hour marks, or location maps.

2. Wayfinding Systems

Surely, have you ever visited a train station or a huge mall and become lost when searching for the public toilets? This is where wayfinding systems help. With some text-based signs or coloured symbols placed systematically on the floors or walls, you can find your destinations more easily and independently. 

3. Glass and Wall Graphics

In corporate buildings, you may have encountered a meeting room with custom glass as the barrier. There could be text, images, logos, and specific colours painted on it. Those are not random, but also give a sense of privacy and visual communication. 

4. Murals

Some places integrate physical visual appeal, like paintings directly applied on the wall or solid substrate, ensuring the artistic values and emphasise the brand image. 

5. Digital Displays

Digital displays deliver information to the audience more quickly. For example, an airport that updates plane delays on monitors. 

Also Read: How to Build a Graphic Design Portfolio (Even with No Experience)

10 Environmental Graphic Design Examples to Inspire You​

Many real-world examples are easy to find. Below are some of the best ones that can give you insights to improve your branding projects and encourage you to produce the best environmental graphic design​.

1. London Underground’s Transit System

Who would be overwhelmed if the routes on the pictures were not coloured? Everyone, especially newcomers. So, Harry Beck applies a wayfinding system effectively by distinguishing lines with colours, distinct symbols, and constant typography.

2. BlueStonex

Rather than maintaining plain white walls, BlueStonex has murals and other featuring elements in the surrounding to elevate the mood and increase the aesthetic enjoyment. 

3. The National Museum: African American History and Culture

All exhibitions in this museum are immersive because of utilization of statues for visual representations, display boards for detailed facts information, and stunning headline carved on the walls for informative decorations. 

Also Read: 12 Essential Skills Every Graphic Designer Should Master

4. LinkedIn in New York

LinkedIn’s office in New York has inspirational hashtags, quotes, and even pictures of the employees’ pets to always motivate them.

5. Google Office Buildings

Almost all Google offices utilise environmental graphic design flawlessly by giving slides, climbing walls, nap pods, and ealso colorful murals. This is to remind their employees not to fixated on working on desks but to take a break and search for creativity anywhere around the corner. 

6. Niketown in London

The space at the store combines digital displays, murals, and wall graphics, and wonderfully to speak for the brand to the audience. For example, ‘kiss my airs’ may tell the customers that their shoes are light. 

7. High Line in New York City 

The park used to be a railway line. So, there are signs, instructions, wayfinding, and decorations that give instructions to visitors, yet still become sights for sore eyes. 

Also Read: Minimalist Graphic Design: Principles, Tips, and 10 Examples

8. Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport

All the signage and symbols blend in well with the architecture, colours, and clear hierarchy of sizes. 

9. Times Square in Manhattan 

Vibrant colours, clear fonts, and animations in the areas bring out the liveliness and entertainment in the location, without erasing the informative purposes. 

10. Queenstown Airport

Apart from clear fonts and symbols, colour also plays a major part in influencing your audience. For example, green is associated with less panic, which brings tranquility to consumer in airports. 

Also Read: Brutalism Graphic Design​ Guide with Unique Examples

A Lot to Consider in Environmental Designs

Environmental graphic design should bring together fonts, colours, interior and architectural elements, to produce effective designs that bring relevant audience experience visually. 

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