Wayfinding system for Artis — Amsterdam Royal Zoo
Since 2012, Artis — Amsterdam Royal Zoo is equipped with a new wayfinding system, commissioned from award-winning signage experts Mijksenaar:
Visitors can follow the signs to their chosen destination, or follow the emblems for the Artis walk — a scenic route along the highlights of the park. Each signpost features a Dutch native bird: species like magpie, starling and barn owl. By using the new signposts and a map, everybody can compose their own route.
In keeping with the overall visual identity of Artis, the typeface chosen for the signs is Omnes by Darden Studio. It is used in a single style of medium weight, reversed on grey. With its crisp letterforms and rounded contours, Omnes blends well with the friendly and accessible animal pictograms.
Dutch Design Awards rewarded the zoo for its good clientship with the Best Client Award 2014. Read more about the project and see more images on the websites of Mijksenaar and designer Christiaan van Dokkum.
The information is arranged in three layers. The first one is for the Artis Walk, the recommended tour featuring the highlights. The second layer shows the way to the 15 most important animals of the zoo. Finally, the third layer holds information about facilities, like restaurants or toilets.
“A legend, applied on the pole so children can read it, explains the animal symbols”
The legend is bilingual, with the English translations rendered in the same typeface style, just smaller.
A special sign for Artis Square: “The colour blue (used for Dutch street signs) accentuates a look befitting a public town square.”
