UC Berkeley Campus Signage Guidelines
The University of California at Berkeley undertook a long-range planning effort to enhance campus life, accessibility, sustainability, and infrastructure. As part of this initiative, Page developed the Campus Wayfinding Guidelines to support these strategic goals.
Our design creates a unified, high-performing system that simplifies navigation while reinforcing the campus’ timeless character. By reducing visual clutter and enhancing intuitive wayfinding, the system improves the daily experience of the UC Berkeley community.
Drawing from the Berkeley brand, the visual vocabulary integrates seamlessly with the campus’s landscape and architecture, creating a cohesive and recognizable system. A landmark-based approach minimizes the number of messages on signs and reduces the cognitive load on users, making navigation more efficient and engaging.
Donor guidelines
As we developed the Wayfinding Guidelines, we recognized that major monuments often carried the names of key donors, making them part of a larger donor recognition program. Beyond building identification, honoring supporters can take many forms—interpretive panels, room and amenity identification, and other unique opportunities.
To create a consistent yet flexible approach, we collaborated with University Development, Alumni Relations, College Development groups, and others across campus. Together, we explored how the University could maintain a unified system while allowing each college to recognize its donors in a way that feels authentic to its community.
Every building and site has its own architectural language, and design should reflect that. We worked closely with stakeholders to create a framework that celebrates each college’s individuality while streamlining materials and sizes. Today, the Donor Guidelines are in place, ensuring a cohesive yet adaptable system as new buildings and donor opportunities emerge.
Navigation made simpler
Redesigned maps in multiple orientations ensure intuitive, heads-up navigation across Berkeley’s campus—helping visitors find their way with ease.
Accessibility
34 acres of the Berkeley campus serve as a living museum and sanctuary for over 10,000 plant species—many endangered. Nestled within Strawberry Canyon on the campus’s eastern edge, the Berkeley Botanical Gardens is a place of natural beauty, featuring a diverse network of pathways—narrow and wide, paved and unpaved, flat and steep, with some inclines exceeding 13%.
Recognizing accessibility as a core priority, the university saw an opportunity to enhance the gardens with a thoughtfully designed system of icons and messaging. This system encourages exploration while ensuring safety, informing visitors of pathway conditions before they embark.
Whether using a wheelchair or scooter, pushing a stroller, or navigating with limited mobility, visitors can assess their route ahead of time and confidently choose the best path for their needs. The goal is simple: to provide knowledge and opportunity so more members of the Berkeley community can experience and enjoy these remarkable gardens.
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