2023 SEGD Achievement Award Winner
September 15, 2023
SEGD’s (The Society for Experiential Graphic Design) 50th Anniversary Celebration and Conference Experience "Look Both Ways” took place on August 26, 2023 in Washington DC. Since 1987 - SEGD has recognized outstanding individuals, pioneering companies, and influential institutions that have made profound contributions to the fields of experiential and environmental graphic design.
SEGD announced thirty-three (33) 2023 SEGD Achievement Awards winners and this year SEPTA and our partner Entro were among them! The projects spanned a range of topics, disciplines, and verticals, highlighting the role of design in addressing themes of our connection to nature, sustainability, indigenous connection to place, and our collective future. They evaluated projects in seven categories: Branded Environments, Digital Experiences, Exhibition, Placemaking, Public Installation, Strategy/Research/Planning, and Wayfinding.
Out of 334 entries - 12 Honor Awards and 21 Merit Awards were chosen from around the world.
SEPTA’s Branding and Wayfinding Master Plan was chosen for the 2023 Merit Award under the Strategy/Research/Planning category. The Merit Award acknowledges artful conception and creative solutions in experience design projects.
Many ask: What is wayfinding?
Wayfinding is anything that helps you find your way (signage, maps, websites, schedules, and apps). The Wayfinding Master Plan addresses how these elements guide you from Point A to Point B. A new consistent signage system will be the largest wayfinding improvement to the SEPTA system in decades - making our network easier to use and understand than ever before.
SEPTA recognized that ridership patterns were likely to change long term during the pandemic in the spring of 2020. SEPTA’s response was to prioritize the development of a Branding and Wayfinding Master Plan. SEPTA collaborated with Entro, our riders, and many other interested parties to develop the Master Plan. SEPTA was aware that the wayfinding signage was inconsistent and often difficult to understand for our riders. Much research and collaboration with riders through surveys/workshops/interviews we gained insight into the needs of those who use the system. The wayfinding system and messaging needed to be more perceptive, accessible, and inclusive for all rider's abilities. Based on the research and input the goal was to develop a plan that was more accessible and universal for new and well-seasoned riders of the system.
The plan focuses on the Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, Norristown High Speed Line, and the City and Suburban trolleys. These lines were constructed and operated by private companies many years ago. Thus creating a brand awareness of being split by contrast to the Bus Network and Regional Rail Network which are recognized and communicated as integrated systems.
To learn more about the Wayfinding Master Plan click here.
