Campus signs get an update

Directional signs, building and room names, campus maps – these signs have become nearly invisible to campus regulars but are indispensable to new students and visitors. In 2021, EPFL began a complete redesign of its signage. “For now, the new signage has been installed in the CE and BS buildings,” says Jean-Marc Schwab, who is heading up the project. It will be rolled out across the rest of the Lausanne campus between now and 2024, and eventually on the satellite campuses, too.

The new red-and-white signs were created by Nordsix, a graphic design firm based in Lausanne. Immediately identifiable, they echo the EPFL logo introduced in 2019 and fit in perfectly with the School’s brand identity. “We wanted to give better visibility and clarity to various entrances and exits, while using a minimum amount of material in order to simplify maintenance,” says Karen Schmutz, lead designer at Nordsix. The new signage also aligns with EPFL’s new initiative for security that includes setting up both public and access-controlled spaces. The directional signs will guide visitors to the public areas.

Enhanced functionality

The idea is to increase not only the elegance of the signs but also their effectiveness. “The displays will be accompanied by QR codes. Users can scan the QR codes with their smartphones to view a digital interface available in both French and English,” says Schwab. This will give English speakers easy access to translations of the French displays. “The physical French signs reflect EPFL’s deep roots here in our region and our affiliation to the local community, while the digital bilingual signs reflect our innovative character and openness as an international university,” says Matthias Gäumann, Vice President for Operations.

The QR codes will also give users direct links to the webpages of specific schools and units, and let them find their exact position on the EPFL campus map, right down to the level of the building they’re on.