{"id":739,"date":"2018-12-04T16:54:16","date_gmt":"2018-12-04T16:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.speedpro.com\/santa-rosa\/?p=739"},"modified":"2021-03-09T18:01:55","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T18:01:55","slug":"why-companies-are-embracing-environmental-graphics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.speedpro.com\/santa-rosa\/why-companies-are-embracing-environmental-graphics\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Companies Are Embracing Environmental Graphics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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200 Eye, Washington DC
Hickok Cole Architects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Does your home consist of plain white walls devoid of decoration? Chances are, as soon as you moved into it, you went to work choosing paint colors, artwork and other design elements that reflect your personal style. Maybe you hung posters or prints with motivational quotes to directly influence your outlook each day. Whatever decor you chose, you\u2019re probably aware of the impact your personal environment has on you and your guests.<\/p>\n

While we tend to pay careful attention to the environment we create in our homes, we may fail to give the same attention to our workplaces, despite the fact that we spend almost just as many, if not more, waking hours there.\u00a0Employees do often decorate their desks, but what about shared spaces like lounges, hallways, stairwells, conference rooms and more?<\/p>\n

A study by Cass Business School found that\u00a064 percent of male respondents and 73 percent of female respondents<\/a>\u00a0agreed that their working day is affected by the design of their workplace. Younger workers, millennials in particular, are even more passionate about their work environment than previous generations.\u00a0The fact is, companies do all of their employees and themselves a great service when they pay attention to visually enhancing their spaces, not just in terms of traditional decor but also through well-intentioned graphic design.<\/p>\n

What Are Environmental Graphics?<\/h2>\n

This is where environmental graphics come in. Environmental graphics go by several names. They\u2019re sometimes called supergraphics, experiential graphic design or shortened to EGD for environmental graphic design. Whatever you call it, environmental graphics are displays that enhance the environment where they appear. They can take the form of environmental signs, banners, wall murals, elevator wraps, window graphics and more and can appear on doors, windows, walls, floors or ceilings. They can be flat, such as floor graphics, or three-dimensional, such as acrylic graphics. Whatever form they take, environmental graphics have some important benefits.<\/p>\n

EGD is a rising trend in the corporate world. It started primarily with cutting-edge technology companies, but today, companies of all kinds are embracing the trend. Far from a passing fad, this movement has resulted from an increased understanding of the significant impact the aesthetic aspect of environments has on people. Let\u2019s look at\u00a0seven important reasons to add environmental graphics to your business.<\/p>\n

1. Provide Navigational Signage for Wayfinding<\/h2>\n

One way environmental graphics are used that you might be more familiar with is in wayfinding signage. Navigational signs can be found out in public, around the outside of buildings and inside buildings. They help to indicate location.<\/p>\n

Imagine you\u2019re at an airport trying to figure out where your gate is. You\u2019ll likely see signs on the walls, hanging from the ceilings and maybe even on the floors indicating which direction you need to go and sometimes how far. Once you get there, you should see a sign indicating that you\u2019ve arrived and can finally plop down into a chair and await boarding. You may even see a sign letting you know that there\u2019s a charging station across the aisle.<\/p>\n

Though your office building may not be as big as an airport, you still probably have some signage to help with wayfinding. For instance, you may have signs that indicate a direction to the bathrooms, elevators, stairs and exits. These signs could be simple, framed pieces of paper with black text, but environmental graphic design can bring them to life.<\/p>\n

Imagine stepping out of an elevator and seeing a large, colorful number three directly in front of you on the wall. Maybe the number is composed of company photos or words that describe the valuable work done on the third floor. A sign like this is eye-catching, and it allows you to immediately feel a sense of place.<\/p>\n

2. Educate Employees About Company History<\/h2>\n

While wayfinding fulfills an immediate practical need, environmental graphics don\u2019t stop there. Another one of the reasons to add environmental graphics to your business is to help inform your employees of your company\u2019s rich history. Whether your company is 150 or five years old, you have a story to tell, and it can be told in a visually stimulating way through environmental graphics.<\/p>\n

One way to tell a tale is through a timeline. Graphic timelines give a chronological history of your company by marking major milestones through text and often images too. Your timeline can cover an accent wall in a lobby or lounge or can stretch the length of a long hallway. Here are some things that could appear in one of these timelines:<\/p>\n