Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) serves a diverse student body across four campuses and multiple off-site locations, attracting not only students and staff but also community members attending events and workshops. With such a broad audience navigating its facilities daily, the college needed a cohesive, user-friendly wayfinding system to improve accessibility and create a seamless campus experience.
Guide Studio was selected to design and implement a standardized signage and wayfinding system that would unify navigation across all campuses while allowing flexibility for future growth. The new system was developed with modular signage components, ensuring that messages and directional elements could be easily updated as buildings and programs evolved. The design balances clarity, longevity, and adaptability, helping visitors move from parking lots to main entrances and through a complex network of hallways, walkways, and tunnels with ease.
One of the key challenges Guide Studio addressed was inconsistent room numbering and building identification, which had become a major source of confusion following a campus-wide renaming initiative. By establishing a color-coded sign program and implementing a consistent naming convention, the new wayfinding system provides clear visual cues that guide users efficiently between buildings. Importantly, these improvements help first-time visitors, students, and staff feel more comfortable in their surroundings—enhancing their overall experience and reducing frustration.
To ensure long-term consistency, Guide Studio developed a comprehensive Sign Standards Manual that serves as a blueprint for future signage planning and implementation. This resource empowers Tri-C’s staff and consultants to maintain a unified wayfinding system without the need for ongoing external design support—saving time, money, and effort as the campus continues to evolve.
This project not only transformed wayfinding at Tri-C but also set a precedent for Guide Studio’s expertise in large-scale campus signage systems, reinforcing their ability to blend navigation strategy, experience analysis, and design to create intuitive, lasting solutions.
