ABOUT

This is a VI/sign plan for a community-based family medicine clinic, newly established in Saitama Prefecture. Rooted in its community, it is an open facility with a spacious grass garden and cafe, embodying its concept of casually welcoming anyone in the area to improve their health, regardless of their health conditions. I planned a sign that gives a friendly, welcoming impression, believing that information design functions somewhat like a concierge, servicing the guests on behalf of humans. Normally, a sign consists of a large surface that display letters which seemed restricting to me, so I had constantly been exploring alternative solutions. Usage of boards not only interfere with the space or scenery, but increase installation cost, time, and effort. I therefore developed a sign plan using a single tube, shaping them into icons or numbers, in which case a board will no longer be needed. The idea was to bend a single tube into icons and numbers and have each function as information design. A tube mounted in the ground becomes a sign for parking or bike parking spaces. The tubes which almost appear as pipework sticking out of the wall transform itself into numbers or signs for cafes and pharmacies. By choosing to work without a large surface, I was able to create a sign that doesn’t interfere with the buildings or the surrounding space.