You could be forgiven for thinking that we are speaking about Green Design. When we say Environmental Design, we are speaking of the design of environments through graphic design. Architects and Interior designers use our design expertise to help them detail and complement their work.  Well designed environments go a long way in helping people adapt to the context and purpose of the facility, and in that sense environmental graphics solves real world business and social problems.

Environmental graphics is a concept that is still catching on in India. Of course, we have always had graphics companies who specialise in graphical wall cladding using large format printers to print on Vinyl, and this has often been passed-off for environmental design. In reality, real design specialists are hard to come by and one of the reasons is that the actual scope of environmental design is yet to be clearly defined. There are also no specialist courses in the country that teach environmental graphic design.

Rockfish design is one of few pioneers of environmental design in India, and is among the few specialists in the country that purely focuses on graphic design applied to environments. We recognised early on that the key to environment design are people who inhabit the space and not the space itself. In that sense, environmental graphics transforms spaces into places. It adds context to the overall facility, and delineates sub areas within the overall structure. Environmental design is therefore not just an aesthetic of the place, but also a valuable psychological tool to regulate human behaviour within specific environments.

What is the context to a place?

Libraries are quiet, stock markets noisy, hospitals are serious places while malls are festive. Each space has a social and business context which also informs the mood of the people who inhabit or visit the space. Strategically designed interiors can not only prep visitors to the purpose of the facility, but also maximise the efficiency of the business or social activity itself.

The difference between graphics for environments and branding.

The first question we ask a client commissioning us for an EG project is "Why do you need the graphics?". This is typically to prempt the standard client brief that we have now gotten used to. Corporate brand managers misunderstand the purpose of environmental graphics, and refer to their brand manuals for advice on the kind of graphics to use. This is a very bad idea. Corporate office environments are different from media such as outdoor hoardings or showrooms. The people who use the space are different and use if for completely different purposes. The role of graphics in office envioronments is to help people work better, not to sell them the brands that they are already working for!

Planning for Environmental Design.

Bring in your environmental design studio early into the development of your facility. Ideally after the civil work has stabilised and just before electrical and detailing work begins. The design team will analyse the overall space to see how graphics can be used to solve practical issues. For instance, training areas within a large corporate offices requires people to be calm and receptive while the break-out areas on the other hand have to energise and refresh your employees. The mood can be enhanced to a large part through the careful use of graphics.

Monitoring and maintaining the Environment.

One of the uses of environmental graphics is that it is relatively cheap to completely overhaul, and often changes the environment entirely. This is a good way to re-energise a space, creating a new enthusiasm among staff who are jaded or lax due to overly familiar environments. Graphics are also a good way to prep your employees for a large marketing or business initiative that requires your people to be of a certain frame of mind. By regularly monitoring and maintaining the environment, the mood of the space can constantly be aligned with business purposes.

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To find out more about how environmental graphics can solve people problems, do get in touch with us . Our heuristic checklist for effective environmental design may be exactly what you need for your next facility.