Of Signs & Signage
As keen readers of the Project Sammaan blog and people deeply invested in the project, you already know that the signage tender for 4 community toilet typologies has just been sent out. As we work on refining the designs for the signs themselves, and creating the specifications for the remaining typologies, this seemed like a great spot to take a step back and reveal the signage program for the Project Sammaan toilet facilities.
There are four different categories of signs in the Project Sammaan facilities:
Branding & communication
These will contain elements of the identity, such as the Project Sammaan logo, characters, and the like.
Instructional
These signs convey critical information, for example “No Smoking” and “Close Taps after Use”.
Way-Finding
Signs to delineate the various features of the toilet facility, such as “spitting trough” and “clothes-wash area”.
Temporary signage
These are posters, flyers or other notifications about special discounts and scheme for using the facility, announcements regarding maintenance schedules, and other short-term signage.
A sample elevation of the facade of a two-seater toilet, with space for signage and display demarcated.
Codesign is currently in discussions with the principal stakeholders to finalise the directions for logo & identity, which will also influence the design of the signs themselves. The signs shown below are quick snapshots of the design process as it progresses and can be considered as work-in-progress examples of the final designs.
A sign depicting the facilities provided at the toilet. This sign would appear outside the toilet facility, in areas where people might queue up before entering the facility. All signs will be bilingual, carrying messaging in both English and Oriya.
An example of an instructional sign.
The colors used here reference the logo directions under consideration. an interesting point to note is the need to maintain contrast with the wall on which these signs will be mounted. In public toilet facilities, the internal walls are made of a local rock called Kadappa, a type of limestone and in community toilets, it will be Laeterite rock.
The color options shown above, while borrowing from the identity color scheme, also ensure consistently high-contrast with the background, ensuring high visibility.
Apart from the signage categories mentioned above, Each Sammaan facility will also feature tile graphics, which are patterns derived from traditional Odisha art motifs and styles.
The following images depict some of these patterns:
Check back here soon for updates as we finalise the signage direction and expand the library of signage for the toilet facilities.