Is It Time To Think Differently?

Be Bold. Shape Spaces.

Most signage follows a predictable formula; it's mounted neatly on walls or ceilings and designed to be functional yet unobtrusive. However, the wayfinding signage has taken a different approach at the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus.

Here, it's an integral part of the user experience, woven directly into the fabric of the building, and it challenges every conventional expectation for signage. Rather than blending in, it's a bold statement using scale, positioning, and contrast to reframe navigation.

At the core of this unique approach are nine oversized signage beams, each one extending up to 18 metres in length. These structures cut through the atrium of the building rather than simply being just flat panels on the walls. Braced between floors, ceilings and walls, they create a network of surfaces to accommodate directional content.

The way the beams crisscross through the space mirrors the atrium and its function. Connecting the research labs and communal areas reflects the link between the space, and the idea of collaboration and interdisciplinary research.

Colour also plays a critical role; a vibrant contrast to the raw concrete interiors, the signage can't be missed. It adds to the space and becomes an integrated part of the architecture. It never dominates but is balanced perfectly to complement the building while delivering on its purpose.

This different approach, a different way of thinking from 'the best signage is the signage you don't notice', breaks the rules. Yet it shows that signage doesn't have to be a passive device; it can actively shape the space and the experience.

The lesson here is straightforward. Exceptional results can only happen when you're willing to challenge expectations. If signage is treated as a secondary element, how can it ever be extraordinary?

Innovation is at the heart of signage and wayfinding, and the shifting mindsets of designers and clients are positive. Pushing forward ideas, bold thinking, and open conversations redefine what's possible.

This is precisely what Büro Uebele and their creative partners achieved here. The result isn't just a signage system; it's a statement. A true masterclass on how thinking differently and breaking the rules not only creates better spaces but shows how you can redefine them entirely.

You can explore this project in more depth here.

© All images belong to their original owner.

Additional Project Credits:

• Product Design: Mocup, Andreas Moll

• Manufacturing: Eicher Werkstätten

• Illustration: Shiwen Sven

• Architect: Wulf Architekten

• Photography: Brigida González

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