Environmental Signage
Making the invisible visible at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport
The Challenge
The Burlington airport had made significant investments in their facilities on strategic behind-the scenes systems like more efficient air quality control, lighting design, and more.
They wanted to let the public know, and asked for our assistance.
The Solution
I began with a walk-through of the space with the designer, so we could get a sense of the real estate available as well as how travelers moved through the airport, and where we might best grab their attention.
We decided to focus mainly on the spaces beyond TSA, to capitalize on the captive audience of people waiting for planes.
From there we focused on the spaces opposite of congregation areas.
Next the content:
I separated the focus areas by the senses they most affected—hearing, sight, and touch, and together with the designer created a series of signs that asked people to stop and notice what was around them; whether it was quieter HVAC, softer lighting, or fresher air.
We came up with an appealing yet technically accurate visual language to express the energy savings in a way a lay person could understand, translating savings data (like kWh and Btus) into equivalencies like “round trips to Florida” and added a more extensive storytelling element online, which people could access through QR codes.
The Result
Judging by the analytics, the signs were a hit.
The client was quite pleased, and left the display up for several years. They felt it was fun, and furthered their brand in a new, and exciting way.
