Blogs
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Maps: Plotting the Course, Part 2

They say you only have one chance to make a first impression. There is no doubt that applies to organizations, entities and physical places. Now more than ever, the world is competing for customer time and money. Therefore, that first impression better be a good one. ...
June 11, 2018 Brand Experience, Design, Interpretive Signage, map design, Maps, Nomenclature, Pedestrian Signage, Placemaking
Position Papers
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Maps: Plotting the Course, Part 1

Ever since curiosity got the best of mankind and we ventured out to discover and explore uncharted territories, maps have been an essential tool for navigating, comprehending and documenting geographic and spatial information....
April 30, 2018 Maps
Position Papers
Communities Wayfinding

Connecting Neighborhoods Through Wayfinding

We love our hometown of Cleveland, Ohio for a lot of reasons – great people, great business opportunities, great sports, great food. We especially love the abundance of unique neighborhoods and districts to explore within the city’s limits....
April 30, 2018 Sign Standards, Sign System
Position Papers
Branding Communities Public Venues

Making Sense of Civic Brands

We believe so strongly in the power of brand that our founder Rachel Downey created another consultancy, PlaceHolder, built on the belief that purpose and brand should always come first when you are thinking about, planning or actively doing place-based design....
April 3, 2018 Brand Champions, Brand Purpose, Brand Strategy, Civic Branding
Blogs
Branding Wayfinding

What is Placemaking?

What makes a place great? It’s the question that keeps us up at night. When you think of your favorite places – your childhood home, the coffee shop up the street, a park across town, a city on another continent, etc. – do you know what makes them so special?...
April 3, 2018 Brand Experience, Placemaking
Position Papers
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Wayfinding Start Here

Where Does One Begin to Develop a Wayfinding Program?
A lot of our projects begin with a call from a future client with a statement of “We need a wayfinding program.” After a conversation addressing the issues they’ve experienced to bring them to this conclusion, we get to the reasonable questions...
March 10, 2017 Sign System, Wayfinding Assessment, Wayfinding Audit
Blogs
Communities Wayfinding

Urban Parks Adopt Wayfinding

via NRPA.org
Wayfinding is trending in urban parks as cities compete for tourist dollars, new businesses and city-dwelling residents. It’s a practical tool for navigation, but wayfinding is also used to help create a positive experience...
March 9, 2018 Planning, Sign System

A Free Guide to Building Your Brand Champion Dream Team

Tips and templates for building your team from scratch.

Download

Position Papers
Branding Marketing Wayfinding

10 Tips To Keep Your Project On Time And On Budget

Everyone has had a project that did not go as planned. Things happen and projects that take two months creep into six. Budgets go beyond scope and clients wonder, “Why is this project costing more than we anticipated...
February 5, 2018 Budgets, Project Management, Project Timeline
News
Communities Wayfinding

Guide Studio Works with City of North Olmsted on Historic District Signage

via Cleveland.com
Guide Studio was hired by the city to develop a unique sign system for the North Olmsted's historic district that emphasizes their historic homes along Butternut Ridge Road and helps recognize and preserve the architectural heritage...
March 9, 2018 Historic Preservation Plan, North Olmsted, Sign System
Blogs
Branding Marketing

These three steps can keep your business on the right path

via Smart Business
Guide Studio Founder and Owner, Rachel Downey, shares the secret sauce recipe for building a healthy business and a productive team, published in the November issue of Smart Business...
February 27, 2018 Business Advice, Leadership, Vision
Position Papers
Communities Institutions Public Venues Retail Wayfinding

Follow the Sign Standards

The Whys and Hows of Sign Standards and Guidelines
Developing sign standards are important for creating consistent and smart sign programs that uphold the design integrity of a space or place. They can communicate the aesthetic requirements that allow the program to live in harmony with a space’s interior or exterior design; they can provide guidance in how information needs to be presented to make a place highly usable....
February 5, 2018 Sign Standards, Sign Systems
News
Branding Communities Marketing

University Heights hires firm to give it a brand

via Cleveland.com
We are truly excited to work with University Heights on refreshing their brand! Several of us at Guide Studio have lived in or near University Heights for many years and have a special appreciation for the city and what it represents...
February 28, 2018 Brand Champions, Brand Identity, Brand Strategy, Civic Branding
Blogs
Communities Institutions Wayfinding

Interpretive Storytelling

Q&A with Certified Interpretive Planners Nancy Desmond and John Veverka
An Interpretive Program, as it relates to environmental graphic design, is a system of signs, graphics and other visual elements that share short stories reflecting on the history, people, culture, ecology and architecture of a place...
January 4, 2018 Interpretive Signage, Pedestrian Signage, Storytelling

Planning a Brand Launch?

A well-documented plan will give your new brand the attention it really deserves.

Download