Graphic design draws the form of the interaction among different entities.
Citizens, administrators, institutions and local investors are specific categories of entities: they are all users (sometimes also providers) of urban services.
Graphic design is a useful tool to visually coordinate the sometimes contrasting interests of city users and stakeholders towards the use of public services and facilities.
The graphic design coordination process includes:
- focus on specific local needs (what has to be visually represented)
- highlight on addressees of the design project (communication targets): i.e. inhabitants and/or foreign investors, tourists, etc.
- design out put that, according to the previous steps, may include a range of products, from wayfinding system (integrating i.e. public transport, pedestrian walks, monuments' signage), to social and civic campaign encouraging some habits, like cultural integration (i.e through posters and flyers), to place branding campaign (touristic promotion abroad), etc.
As result, graphic design can contribute to reinforce and rationalize the offer of local services. This affects the way people perceive opportunities and what use they can make of public services and spaces.
Best achievements are reached when the graphic design process is integrated to urban design and urban planning strategies.
A selection of case studies and best practices will be shown in the following pages.
Some Western European cities like Bristol, Amsterdam and Berlin have in the last years adopted a combination of urban design and communication design strategies. The presentation of these case histories may offer interesting methodologies in response to the need of an increment of the quality of the offer of local services and welfare.
