The Way it Was: How Most of Us Learned

As designers involved in the Environmental Graphic Design field over the course of the last 15 years we have seen a lot of change in how the field is perceived, promoted and the types of projects available to us as designers. EGD is no longer something you just stumble upon, but something that has become part of the design lexicon. It has gained interest among various disciplines beyond just graphic designers, it draws the attention of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, urban planners, and industrial designers.

As trained graphic designers working in the EGD field, we were typically the students that gravitated to the school projects that resulted in tangible results – packaging, complex printed pieces, and logo applications beyond just stationary packages. If it moved, folded, was constructed or large scale, we were drawn to it. It wasn’t until we had the opportunity to enter the workforce did we learn about signage, exhibit design or any other form of EGD. We learned almost everything about EGD through our work experiences – including what that odd-looking triangular ruler was for and how to use it. We relied on our superiors and mentors to teach us and inform us to what was possible and to define this new world and medium we had entered into.

This remained true as we began to interview and hire new design talent. As we reviewed their portfolios there were no EGD projects to see. How were we to tell if they could make the leap to working within the built environment? Could this graphic designer read architectural plans? Does this architect have a grasp of typography and branding? If you asked any one of the candidates what they liked about EGD, could they give you an answer? Did they even understand the question? When interviewing a graphic designer we had to look for those projects that had a physical, multi-dimensional aspect to them. When interviewing an architect or industrial designer we knew they could produce detailed construction drawings, but did they have any experience working with typography? The hope was that you could find something in their work that had a connection with Environmental Graphic Design and you knew that you would have to teach them the rest.

Since 1973, it has been the mission of SEGD to not only promote public awareness of the EGD community but also to serve as a source of education and inspiration as well as strengthen ties with educational programs that provide the academic underpinnings of our field. Today, our field has many more professionals instructing at the college/university level and providing future EGDers with the basic skills they will need to enter the field fully educated and ready to hit the ground running.

How EGD Education Has Changed

Because of the efforts of SEGD, educators and EGD professionals, Environmental Graphic Design has started to emerge as part of design education programs at various colleges and universities. There is now a range of ways that students can receive training in EGD. Some universities are offering exhibit and wayfinding courses as a part of their graphic design curriculum, while other universities have developed more specified tracks or programs of study. The following is a general snapshot of some of the different types programs currently being offered to students interested in EGD. We hope that by starting with the programs we are most familiar with, it will open a discussion of all of the other opportunities.

Undergraduate programs

Whether offered as a concentration in an overall graphic design program or as a stand alone major, universities such as Drexel University, Iowa State University, and the University of Cincinatti offer a series of Environmental Graphic Design courses. Students in these programs receive training and experience in a diverse range of EGD projects included wayfinding, exhibition design and architectural branding. At Drexel University, graphic design students explore EGD projects as one of their core studio classes, and can elect to pursue a focus in EGD by enrolling in the multiple, more specific Environmental Graphic Design courses offered.

Undergraduate Courses

The most popular way students are experiencing EGD is through a required or elective course offered as part of their graphic design education. Many colleges and universities, including Syracuse University, Philadelphia University, University of Colorado, and the University of Georgia, to name a few, offer a studio or lecture class focused on EGD.

As part of the communications design program, Syracuse University offers a course where juniors and seniors participate in a “real-world” exhibit design project for a local institution. In the past these institutions have included the local science museum, a nature center and even the University itself.

Some universities are using EGD as a tool to encourage interdisciplinary interaction. At Philadelphia University this semester, an EGD course is being offered as an elective for graphic design, architecture, and industrial design students. These students are working together on both an exhibit design and signage project.

Graduate Programs

There are even some institutions that have begun to offer graduate level EGD programs. Most of these programs, at institutions such as University of the Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology, and Corcoran College of Art and Design, are in Museum and Exhibition Design. Students in these programs focus on everything from space and lighting design to conservation and art handling. At University of the Arts, graduate students can earn a MFA in Museum Exhibition, Planning and Design. The program prepares students for careers in the development and design for museums through coursework that focuses on planning, programming, design, execution and evaluation for a wide range of museum types.

Continuing Education

For those professionals in the EGD field that want to continue to expand on their EGD knowledge and stay up to date on EGD trends and innovations, there are many ways to remain an active student of Environmental Graphic Design.

• Attend the annual SEGD conference
• Listen to/participate in a SEGD teleconference
• Attend the SEGD summer program at Kent State
• Attend the retreat at Cranbrook that focuses on exhibition design
• Take an architecture or interior design class
• Keep a library of up-to-date EGD books and resources
• Sign up for one of SEGD’s workshops, where professionals meet to explore topics such as ADA, transportation, and documentation
• Become an active voice in the EGD community by participating in the SEGD listserve or communicating with fellow designers on twitter.
• Organize lunch and learns with vendors, consultants or other professionals