University of Bristol

Signage guidelines

Senate House Mathematics

Physics Medical Sciences
The Hawthorns
Arts
Social Sciences
 Introduction

CONTENTS

1 Philosophy
Behind the University of Bristol Signage
2 Hierarchy
2.1 Orientated map panel
Scheme is a simple aim – to make the
2.2 Directional fingerpost
2.3 Main building sign University Precinct more ‘legible’ and welcoming
2.4 Department and number
2.5 Number to visitors and the University community.
2.6 External grounds
2.7 Foyer directory The scheme is about communicating the right
2.8 Floor area directory
3 Precinct areas
information at the right place and creating an
3.1 Precinct symbols
4 Off-precinct
4.1 Stoke Bishop
integrated wayfaring system for pedestrians, riders
5 Branding
5.1 Colour
and drivers. It is about getting from A to B and
5.2 Typeface
5.3 UoB logo on to C as easily and efficiently as possible with
6 Materials, finishes
and fixings the aid of clear, accurate, high quality information.
7 Sign location
8 DDA compliance
9 Preferred suppliers

This guide enables anyone involved in the provision

of signs to follow a carefully thought-through
approach to their design, production and installation.
1 Philosophy

The City of Bristol has an award-winning signage system (part of

the Bristol Legible City initiative) which has become a model for
other city-centre schemes in the UK. The University’s signage
scheme has been designed to complement, and have strong
visual associations with, the Bristol Legible City signs. The linkage
between the schemes reflects the close relationship between
town and gown and should be helpful to visitors to the University.

The University signs have been designed as a family, with each

element supporting the others and creating a stronger University
brand across the Precinct.

2 Hierarchy

The Signage Scheme works as a hierarchy, taking people from a

broad understanding of the geography of the Precinct to the location
of particular buildings and areas within them. It is intended to be
readily understood by first-time visitors and by students, staff and
alumni. The hierarchy comprises these elements:

i. Precinct area
ii. Road / Street
iii. Building name / Department
iv. Floor
v. Room / Individual’s title

It is not necessary to apply all the above information to every sign.

However, the information used always follows the suggested order.
 There are eight primary signage types:

2.1 Orientated Precinct Senate House Mathematics Senate House Mathematics

Physics Medical Sciences Physics Medical Sciences
map panel on a directional The Hawthorns The Hawthorns
Arts Arts
fingerpost: positioned on Social Sciences Social Sciences

main arterial routes.

2.2 Directional fingerpost:

positioned at points
where secondary
wayfinding is required.

2.1 2.2

2.3 Main building:

positioned either in
front of, or directly
on, key buildings.
T YNDALL AV E N U E
Senate House
Central administration and general enquiries

2.3

2.4 Department + number: 2.5

TYND ALL’ S PAR K R D
TYNDALL’S PARK RD
positioned either in front
of, or directly on,
departmental buildings.

2.5 Number: positioned on

34
Social Sciences and Law
34
the building exterior
Economics, Finance and
by the main entrance. Management
Politics

2.4
2.6 External grounds:
Information and/or
directional, positioned
within the grounds of
University buildings.
Used in conjunction
and always secondary
to Main building signs.
2.7 Foyer directory: a slatted
sign positioned inside each
building entrance.
NOTE: to aid the user and
maintain a uniform look, it
is recommended that one
signage system is used
2 Mechanical Dept office
throughout a building
rather than different
1 Avionics Laboratory
approaches floor by floor.
2.8 Floor/area directory:
slatted signs positioned
at wayfinding points
within each building.
Ground floor
M Junior Common Room
L Hydraulics Laboratory
CANT OCK 2.7 Ground floor 2.8
Earthquake Link
Queen’s Building Design PC Lab
ENGINEER ING
Second
First
G
Ground floor
i
Exit
i
Design PC Lab
Design Studios
Ground
Mezzanine
Lower Ground
Aerospace HOD Office
Aerospace Dept Office
Graphic Design Unit
Rooms 2.1-2.62
Classroom 0.73
Earthquake Link
BLADE Seminar Room
Civil Department Office
Classrooms 1.7-1.8, 1.59-1.60
Engineering Maths Department Office
Engineering Maths PC Laboratory
Faculty Office – General Enquiries Ground floor
Lecture Theatres 1.15, 1.18 Exit
MEng Design Laboratories Staff Common Room
PC Laboratory 1.16 Andrew Robertson Room
Postgraduate Office
Electrical Teaching Labs
Pugsley Lecture Theatre
Vice-Chancellor’s Room
Workstation laboratory 1.19
Andrew Robertson Room
Dynamics Link Area
Electrical Teaching Laboratory
Staff Common Room
Aerospace Department Office
Central Design Office
Classroom 0.73
Design Studios 1 & 2
Earthquake Link Area
Graphic Design Unit
Library
Workshop and Laboratories
 3 Precinct areas

In order to add cohesion to the disparate parts of the University,

the Precinct has been divided into five areas. Bounded by the
main arterial roads, each area is named, colour-coded and has an
identifying symbol to simplify wayfinding. This coding is carried
across all primary signage types.

Precinct map: as seen

on the orientated precinct
map looking north.

3.1 Precinct symbols: used

in conjunction with the
precinct area colour.
Important aid for those with
defective colour vision.

Cantock Royal Fort Tyndall Woodland Wills

Pantone: 260 Pantone: 349 Pantone: 2747 Pantone: 166 Pantone: 187

Vinyl: Avery 868 Vinyl: Avery 734 Vinyl: Avery 852 Vinyl: Avery 848 Vinyl: Avery 770

BS: 24 C 39 RAL: 6029 RAL: 5002 RAL: 2004 RAL: 3001

 4 Off-precinct

Colour coding and identifying symbols are

currently being developed for Off-precinct sites.

4.1 Example: Stoke Bishop,

encompassing the
University sites in that area.

Stoke Bishop
Pantone: 7483

Vinyl: Avery 766

RAL: 6002

If you require Off-precinct signage, please consult

with Alan Stealey, University of Bristol Gardens
and Grounds Manager.
 5 Branding

It is very important to create consistent branding to maintain and

strengthen the University’s image. The five area colours plus black
and white form the complete Precinct signage colour palette. Off-
precinct sites will not adopt the Precinct area colours. The only
typeface used is Helvetica Neue. The University of Bristol logo is
applied in its principal colours or in white on the designated colour
background. The Precinct symbols appear on every sign.
There is no deviation from these basic principles.

5.1 Colour
The starting point for all
the primary signage is the
area colour, identifying
approximately where the
person is located. The
area symbol appears either
white on the area colour or
in the area colour on white.
All other information will
appear as black type on
a white background or
as white type on a
background of the
area colour. For colour
specification refer to
3.1 Precinct symbols.

5.2 Typeface 35 Helvetica Neue Thin abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890

Helvetica Neue is the
University’s signage 45 Helvetica Neue Light abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890
typeface, selected for
its legibility and flexibility. 55 Helvetica Neue Roman abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890
Different weights can
be used to illustrate the
65 Helvetica Neue Medium abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890

signage hierarchy. The

75 Helvetica Neue Bold abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890
use of italicised faces is
not recommended. 85 Helvetica Neue Heavy abcdefghijklmNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890
5.3 University of Bristol logo
The University logo appears
on most external signage in
its principal colours of red
and black on a white
background. When using
the logo on a dark coloured
background (eg External
grounds), its elements
should appear white.

The University logo is

placed in the left-hand
RO YA L F O RT
bottom edge of signs.
The minimum isolation
area around it is always
respected. (Refer to Visual Royal Fort Annexe
Identity guidelines at Institute for Advanced Studies
www.bris.ac.uk/cms/
pro/visualidentity) Minimum isolation area

Gloss Black
Vinyl specification
for University logo
Avery 770

Cap = 1/4 of x Front face

An example of the
typographic fonts and
H E LV E T I C A NEUE 5 5 CAPS
weights used together
with the position formula z
z
on a main building sign.
y
Helvetica Neue 55 x
650mm

s x
Helvetica Neue 55 Roman
s

s y

m 1200mm
 6 Materials, finishes and fixings

The choice of materials has been carefully considered so that the

appearance of the signage reflects positively on the identity of the
University. Use of good quality finishes and materials will ensure
longevity and a lasting smart appearance. The system requires
durable materials and fixings that will minimise vandalism, facilitate
easy changes to graphics and be low on maintenance.

Annotated sign: Formed aluminium panel,

shows suggested stove enamelled white
materials, finishes
and fixing methods. Double sided Front face

TY N D A L L AV E N U E
850mm from
paved surface
Arts and Social Sciences
Library 650mm

50mm

1200mm 200mm

2 x 50mm square profile posts

Ground level
Aluminium posts, powder coated silver
finished with anti-vandal gloss lacquer

{
Avery 800PF series (852 Sapphire Blue)
Vinyl type and coloured
blocks are applied to
panels and then finished Avery 700 series (770 Red)
with anti-vandal lacquer
Gloss Black

Top

Sign panels secured using rivets

through sign trays
 7 Sign location

The positioning of signs is important and care is taken to ensure

that they do not cause an obstruction and will not be obscured
(by plants, parked vehicles, deliveries, etc). The primary signage
types provide sufficient flexibility to suit the Precinct environment
- for instance, it may be more appropriate to position a free-
standing sign to one side of a building of historical and/or
architectural merit than to fix the sign to the building itself.

Sign Design Guide

8 DDA Compliance
The following book is
recommended reading
for DDA compliance: Sign All elements of the University of Bristol signage have been
Design Guide. Peter Barker carefully considered to meet the criteria of the Disability
and June Fraser, JMU and
Discrimination Act.
the Sign Design Society,
ISBN 185878 412 3

9 Preferred suppliers

The following companies have direct experience in

producing signage systems for the University of Bristol.

Totem Design Consultants. Design and project management.

www.totem-design.co.uk Tel: 0117 9625000 Contact: Len Upton

DMA Signs. Sign production company. Especially internal slatted systems.

www.dmasigns.co.uk Tel: 01372 363808 Contact: Sue Willman

Stewart Signs. Sign production company.

www.stewartsigns.co.uk Tel: 023 8025 4781 Contact: Sharon Longman

Wards of Bristol. Sign production company.

www.ward-signs.co.uk Tel: 0117 9553385 Contact: Geoff Hickling
University of Bristol
Signage guidelines

www.bristol.ac.uk

Produced by Building Services

For further information, please contact: Alan Stealey, Gardens and Grounds Manager

© University of Bristol 2005, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TH

Design: www.totem-design.co.uk