We were tasked with designing a wayfinding master plan for Inova, a leading non-profit healthcare provider serving Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC metropolitan area with a team of 24,000 professionals. They had just undergone a rebrand and had four new sites coming online.

The cornerstone of the wayfinding master plan was to ensure consistency across the entire Inova system. Whether a patient visits one building or multiple campuses, the wayfinding experience should feel familiar and intuitive. This means consistent signage design, placement, and messaging from the parking lot to the physician’s office. We focused on simplifying terminology, standardizing department and service names, and using a clear, readable design that reduces confusion.

In addition to consistency, our goals for the master plan were also focused on architectural integration and accessibility. The building features softly curving walls and light-filled interiors that contribute to a calm, healing environment. The signage draws inspiration from the architectural materials and forms.

Additionally, our plan prioritized accessibility for a wide range of users, including individuals with different physical and cognitive abilities. We relied on proven best practices in visual recognition, accessibility codes, and environmental integration. Working directly within architectural models, we placed signs with precision to ensure optimal visibility and contextual harmony.