Identity, signage and wayfinding are part of placebranding. They all promote and enhance a
town’s unique character and connect people to signature destinations and events. Whether
directing people to a revitalized Main Street or new waterfront attraction, integrated branding
and signage build pride in community and support economic development. Smart phone
app’s and social media add to the buzz and sense of discovery. The most imaginative and
successful results happen when our designers collaborate with civic leaders, businesspeople,
store owners, residents and artists.

Environmental enhancements and sign systems for riverfronts, large civic spaces and
entertainment venues enhance public life. Good communication and imaginative design
make accessing complex spaces more enjoyable. CGA designs with crowds in mind,
both in terms of scale and durability. Good communication, simplified wayfinding and
brand expression all work together to yield a dynamic and memorable experience.

Brand identity grows from the inside out and manifests itself in many ways, both visual
and experiential. Guests, clients, investors and employees participate in the brand
experience with every physical or virtual visit to the corporate or government facility.
Brand identity begins online and extends across all media, but it takes on special power
in the built environment where elements can have permanence, material beauty and
dramatic scale.

The campus first impression should be one of engagement and discovery. Gateways and
signage offer a sense of arrival and connection to the history, traditions and identity of the
school. Campuses are 24/7 environments where the constant stream of digital information
and interactive media needs to integrate with conventional signage, orientation and
branding. The overlap of universities, medical centers and cities or towns increases the
need for shared and effective communication with visitors.

Bringing stronger identity and improved wayfinding to many of the nation's busiest and
most prominent health care institutions is a specialty at CGA. We look at the visitor
experience from "door-to-door,” helping visitors plan their journey and navigate to the
medical facility. Making the experience more efficient, less stressful and more
welcoming increases patient/visitor satisfaction tremendously.

Both intellectual and physical assets are drivers of value in the heritage environment. In a
virtual marketplace where people can't "kick the tires" before they make a decision to visit,
a vivid and coherent story and brand message should present substantial information that
people can understand, embrace and share with others. They should also help visitors make
emotional connections with the deeper underlying stories and ideas as they experience
the landscape first hand.

Many of our projects are for complex museum and cultural institutions. Our assistance with identity development, visitor outreach, interpretation and donor recognition helps support each client’s mission, programs and events. Family-friendly wayfinding makes them more inviting and builds loyalty; understanding user needs, cognitive abilities and the physical environment are just some of the factors that help us shape that experience.

Whether for an internationally-known showstopper or quiet gem, parks and gardens
are a nourishing sensory experience. Landscaped gateways welcome visitors. Way-
finding is clear but understated so the landscape and gardens remain center stage.
Our interpretive plans clarify the mission and define the themes and stories to be told.
Engaging interpretive displays, exhibits and cell phone tours invite visitors to learn
how history, horticulture, people and places intertwine.

Our graphic programs help hospitality and retail clients extend a warm welcome, attracting
visitors and contributing originality and theater to the public realm. Whether enhancing
small businesses or large enterprises a retail identity is a lively addition to the community and streetscape. Our environmental enhancements can vary from casual to formal but always allow our clients to strengthen their brand and connect with their guests.