2019-2020 | BC Parks
I have been on the BC Parks list of qualified suppliers for interpretive signage design since 2018. In September 2019 BC Parks invited me to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an interpretive sign project for Joffre Lakes Park. I submitted a detailed proposal including a portfolio, project budget including materials and fabrication, and timeline, and was awarded this project.
Joffre Lakes is one of the most popular parks in BC, being only a couple of hours from Vancouver, the parks attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year from the lower mainland as well as numerous international travellers.
The popularity of this park provides a great opportunity to reach a large number of people to help educate them conservation and backcountry hiking etiquette. With so many visitors there are concerns about sustainable recreation and tourism.
The goal of this project was to provide a fresh approach to engage the many new park visitors. The signs had to appeal to younger visitors as well as international visitors who may experience language barriers. I had to ensure that the signs are accessible to as many visitors as possible. BC Parks has standard design guidelines for interpretive signs, but with this project they were looking for some new ideas, for example - interactive elements, something unexpected that draws people to read the sign, and prioritizing icons and imagery.
Pika interpretive sign with custom shape cut out.
Another objective was to let visitors know how they can help to care for parks and inspire respectful behavior and sustainable recreation use.
The signs were also a collaboration with the Lil'wat and N'quatqua First Nations, and incorporated messages of the Indigenous history, language and culture on this land.
The first step in any interpretive project is a site visit, if possible. The place itself can inspire ideas for innovative ways to best create engaging signage. I budgeted time and money to visit Joffre Lakes Provincial Pars to spend one day doing the initial interpretive planning.
During the site visits I took a photo inventory of the existing signs and made notes on possible sign needs, locations, and themes. As well as talking to BC Parks staff about what messaging they would like to include on the signs.
I researched the history and current use of the parks. There was also a recent Joffre Lakes Visitor Use management action plan that I could reference as well as the BC Parks Future Strategy. This planing informed my approach and helped to develop themes for the project.
I also consulted the BC Parks Sign Standards and any other relevant information. I was given some leeway to not have to strictly follow the BC Parks signs standards for interpretive signs, as they are quite rigid and end up creating the signs that all look the same. With this project we were trying to come up with something new as a pilot project.
Several rounds of drafts were circulated to get feedback from BC Parks throughout the design process. I created prototypes and mockups which can be very helpful tools in the development process.
As with any kind of signage, text and typography are an important part of interpretive signs.
Photography and illustrations were created to work together with the text in an engaging layout.
The three trail signs have a similar layout, with a bend in the sign and a custom cut out shape along the top. As well as a sidebar on the right. Keeping things organized consistently makes it easier for the viewer to see the signs as part of a group.
These signs were a bit tricky to make sure that the cut outs, angles and measurements all worked so that the signs would fit on the standard stands that were provided by BC Parks.
I included messaging on the back of the signs, two sided signs are unique. Using a social media hashtags is something new for BC parks as well.
The two miniature signs were something extra that I wanted to include. Meant to be viewed from a squirrel or marmot’s point of view. These might be something that catch people’s eye, because of their small size and unique location.
Materials are an important part of the final design. I have always been looking for ways to create more sustainable and recyclable signs. These signs, being located in a remote alpine location also had to be very durable for the extremes of both winters and summers in the mountains. I want to use the latest materials and digital fabrication techniques to create the next generation of interpretive signs.
I recommend that these exterior signs be fabricated out of dye sublimated aluminum panels. These signs offer professional presentation and durability, as well as the ability to be cut to custom shapes and add some 3 dimensionality to the signs.
Everyone from the sign fabricators to the BC Parks staff have been very impressed with the design as well as the high end finished quality of these signs.
