Christina M. Yung

BU's campus, located in the middle of the city on a busy street, needed better definition. The client wanted to make the campus more noticeable to passing traffic - with some indication of the beginning and end of the BU campus - and more pronounced building signage. Their previous signage consisted of glossy red plaques with condensed, serif gold type mounted to the front of buildings. It had tradition, but it was very difficult to read in passing, even by foot from the sidewalk.

Initial Design These dramatic, extra-large campus signs are meant for entrance / exit points to the campus. They use a more legible sanserif font and feature rear-lit illumination for the text and photo, along with a bright strip of lighting on the sides. The old red square plaques are echoed in the use of red square tiles.

Initial Design In addition to typical building signage, illuminated, colorful department signs would announce to passerby what goes on at BU. The university had the advantage of a strong body of student/promotional photography that could be used with no rights fees, to keep costs down. The client wanted to draw attention to their famous alumni, and a BU Legacy side was created to showcase Nobel prize winners and leaders in their field that had attended BU.

Initial Design Mini versions of the department signs would go outside individual buildings. Closer to the sidewalk, easier to read, and featuring a gripping image, these pedestrian signs would aid students trying to find their way around campus. The varied imagery would also help enforce the message that a lot goes on at BU.

Initial Design The red square motif continues with an easy-to-spot information / map kiosk. Directional arrows would help guide pedestrians to various buildings.

Final Design The flat panels were replaced with columns to allow for wayfinding directional arrows on the sidewalk-facing side, but the design retains most of the original elements: big photo, BU Legacy, red squares, more legible type, night illumination. To appease tradition, the Boston University logo is rendered in serif just like the old signs, while the rest of the sign is sanserif.

The columns fully illuminate at night, and act as beacons to draw attention to BU buildings from the street.

Final Design The building signs remain largely unchanged from initial design. The building numbers and logo are in the old serif, again as a nod to the traditional gilded plaque signage.