A call for a team of designers to design signs and a signposting system

Iceland Design and Architecture, in cooperation with the ministry of the environment and natural resources and the ministry of industries and innovation, is calling for a team of designers to design signs, signposting system, and a manual for tourist destinations and protected areas.

The project is based on the national strategic plan for 2019-2029 and the implementation plan for 2019-2021 for infrastructure development for nature and heritage preservation. The manual will be made accessible online and is intended for both public and private use. The signs and signposting system is intended to build on previous work on signposts and published reports and manuals on signposting. 

Interested teams are invited to submit their application, of maximum 4 A4 pages, which includes the following information about the team: portfolio or previous work and education and what approach/es and ideology would form the basis of the project if the team should be chosen. Concrete suggestions of signposts are not expected as a part of the application.

The application deadline is August 12th, 2020 and should be delivered to the email address info@honnunarmidstod.is

The goal of the project is to design and coordinate signs and form a holistic signposting system for use in tourist destinations and protected areas and design a manual with design and production guidelines for the system. The project is intended to build on previous work on signposts and published reports and manuals on signposting from different sources which will be upgraded, coordinated, and adapted to current needs.

The project calls for a holistic approach to signposts in tourist destinations and the integration of their different aspects. It is expected that the members of the team are interdisciplinary and possess diverse experiences and skills in order to accommodate the different aspects of a signpost e.g. visual aspects, choice of material, bearing capacity, sustainability, flexibility, and for it to convey a meaningful message.

The stakeholders of a new design manual are many, in fact, all citizens and foreign tourists. Effective signposts can save lives, influence public health, improve nature experiences, maintain nature and heritage preservation, increase safety, and convey a positive image of the country and nation.

The following partners are involved with the project: The ministry of the environment and natural resources, the ministry of industries and innovation, the Icelandic tourist board, Icelandic forest research, the Icelandic association of local authorities, National museum of Iceland, the Cultural heritage agency of Iceland, the Soil conservation service of Iceland, Vatnajökull national park, Þingvellir national park, the Environmental agency of Iceland, Iceland design and architecture, the Icelandic road and coastal administration, ICE-SAR Icelandic association for search and rescue, Iceland touring association, and Útivist touring association. Other stakeholders have also been involved.

The goal of the project is to design and coordinate signs and form a holistic signposting system for use in tourist destinations and protected areas and design a manual with design and production guidelines for the system. In the project, signposts are defined as signs that belong to one of three categories:
1) Warning signs and prohibition signs; 2) Hiking sings; 3) Information and educational signs.

The focus is on:

●      Design that forms a holistic signposting system

●      Design that coordinates new and existing signposts

●      Design that makes use of international research as well as local knowledge and experience of signposts

●      Signposts that incorporate sustainability

●      Signposts that are adapted to local Icelandic conditions, are durable, and require minimum maintenance

●      Choices of material that is economically sustainable in production, maintenance, and installation

●      Signposts that are flexible and simple to expand and adapt to different conditions

●      Signposts that are independent of language

●      A manual that is readable and clear

●      A manual that includes readable and clear guidelines for the signpost system as a whole

The main outcome of the project is a manual with design and production guidelines for signposts and the signpost system. The manual should be readable and accessible so that any contractor (public or private) can easily follow all guidelines necessary to install signposts. It should include accurate and precise information about the system as a whole, its production and implementation, measurements, choice of material, bearing, mountings, etc. Also, precise information about the visual appearance of the signposts, size, measurements, font, color, material, etc. The manual should include all necessary technical and visual information and will be made accessible online.

A selection committee will evaluate all applications and choose 2-5 preliminarily chosen teams who will have the opportunity to meet with the committee and present their project approach, ideology, and previous work. One team will be chosen to undertake the project. The conclusion of the selection process is expected by August 28th, 2020. The work on the project will start immediately and is expected to be completed by December 10th, 2020.

Timeline

June 15th        Project announcement

June 22nd       Information meeting,  at 12:00 - 13:00

August 12th    Application deadline   

August 18th    Preliminary selection announced

August 25th    The preliminarily selected teams meet with the selection committee

August 28th    Final selection of design team announced

December 15th           Project completion

The selection committee

Anna María Bogadóttir, architect and cultural scientists

Einar Sæmundsen, landscape architect and park manager at Þingvellir national park

Jón Björnsson, park manager at Snæfellsjökull national park

Kristján Örn Kjartansson, architect

Ragnar Freyr Pálsson, graphical designer

Stefanía Ragnarsdóttir, graphical designer and public relations officer for Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður

Þráinn Hauksson, landscape architect

The selection committee focus
The teams will be selected according to the following criteria

●      The multidisciplinarity of the team

●       Project approach and ideology

●       Level of holistic thinking

●      Previous work and capacity to undertake large and complicated projects

●      Interest in and knowledge of Icelandic nature

●      The combination of team members, e.g. with regards to gender

Compensation

The 2-5 preliminary selected teams who will meet with the committee and present their project approach will receive 250,000 ISK  + VAT for their contribution. The team that will be chosen to undertake the project will be compensated for their work according to a binding agreement. The compensation for the design and coordination of signs, along with a holistic signposting system and a manual with design and production guidelines for the system, will be between 12 -14,000,000 ISK + VAT.

Ferðamálastofa

Design manual - Norges Nasjonalparker

Merkehandboka - skilmanual

NPS - Government

The procedure specifications will be made accessible online on Friday, July 31, 2020.