Wayfinding at RiverPark

Printing Company : KwangInSP
Material : WPC
Location : Entrance of Hangang River park

Some people visit Hangang River park to refresh or when they are depressed. Wide view and refreshment from Hangang River make people forget all worries that they are carrying. People who visit Hangang River can feel the nature in the city with Hangang River's nature and huge places. For those people, there are lots of wayfinding signs but they are much more functional to give information rather than beauty aspect.
Seoul city is now doing 'Park facility renewal project' to change facilities at Han River park to be beautiful with information giving as one of 'Han River Renaissance Agenda'.
New wayfinding signs, designed slim and modern looking, are harmonized well with the view of Hangang River and make them look beautiful. Moreover, eco-friendly material, WPC(Wood Plastic Composites), is used to get a wood texture which gives warm and soft feeling. WPC is made by a mixture of wood and plastic powder. It doesn't need any treatment for corrosion.
New wayfinding signs are dimensional so 4 sides are available to give information instead of only using 2 sides, front and back, with previous signs. So, people can see the information at any direction if the sign is installed at a crossroad. New signs don't only indicate the way to Hangang park but also show them way to a subway station so that people can find the station easily. Letters on the signs are done by KwangIn SP with specially-assembled engraving machine and being coated after finishing.
The sign were planned to be made by 4 wooden panel but they can be parted as time goes by, so company decided to use an extruded pipe. There is only one size of wooden panel, 40cm wide, it is not cost-effective as it needs cutting to fit the sign which is 25cm wide. But the extruded panel doesn't need any material overuse because it can be made according to each cases.
When people visit the Hangang park, they feel that the sign is not just giving information. It makes people think that it is a work of art. Kim Su Nam, the chief of Han River facility dept., said that "we've got good feedback from people who visited the Hangang park. They felt the sign as a work of art." Signs are installed at 12 Hangang parks and this project will be finished on Dec. 2009.

SHURANG

Location : Jongro, Seoul
Design & Manufactur : Make
Material : Wood & Bricks

For years, we've often heard of many '-holic' words around us. '-holic' is the word used to refer to people who are addicted to something. Since 'shopperholic', addicted to shopping, has first emerged, 'shoeaholic', the word meaning people who are addicted to collecting shoes, took the trend. Carrie, a heroine of TV series, 'Sex and the City' is addicted to shoes, so she begs a thief not to take her shoes.
It is not unusual that these also can happen to normal people. If you are a woman, the desire to have pretty shoes comes from the bottom of the mind. 'SHURANG' is the place where ladies can fill their desire. That's why unique handmade shoes in show window are waiting for their customers.
Even though you are not a shoeaholic, you can not miss the shop when you see the specially designed side sign board. Putting a real shoe on the SHURANG's projecting sign, people can easily know that it is a shoe shop even they don't read letters on the sign. It's been centuries in Europe to put symbols on their signs.
It is necessary for shop owners to make their shops special in the serious competition at the market. So design aspect should be considered. But it will ruin the sign for people to recognize your shop if you put too much effort only on design side. Therefore, shop owners should think both design and shop identity.
SHURANG's sign was awarded to be a good sign, organized by 'The hope institute'
as worthy of the name, all signs, front, standing and projecting, are hand-made. Letters are cut by laser engraving machine. Not only projecting sign, but also front and standing sign are quite unique. They put the shop's logo in a big outline and put another small outline inside to make the sign be seen like a sign in a sign.
Standing sign with cute handwriting letters act as a milestone, showing various directions in the area. Instead of using fluorescent lamp or neon, which is frequently used, this standing sign uses indirect lighting and makes mild and elegant atmosphere.
As the pretty sign, SHURANG provides many cute and unique shoes. They have their own brand shops in department stores and lots of celebrities come to buy the shoes. The last stage of completing beauty is to select proper shoes. You are out of the line of fashionista if you ignore how important role shoes play. Go get the shoes at SHURANG. It is shoe fashionista.