Nearly there...
DESIGNING A TRAIL SIGNAGE SYSTEM FOR ONE OF PATAGONIA’S MOST TRAVELED ROAD WAS AS COOL -AND CHALLENGING- AS IT SOUNDS.
Production Design, Signage Design
CLIENT: RESERVA CERRO PAINE
Reserva Las Torres is a private-owned estate within NP Torres del Paine that manages one of the most iconic destination in Chilean Patagonia. The Base Torres trail gathers over 1.000 daily visitors, and lacked a cohesive and reliable wayfinding infrastructure.
A family-owned company, they are hospitality visionaries that followed the spirit of European elites’ Grand Tours and transitioned from the farming and livestock industry to the hospitality and conservation ventures.
Problem is, trekking in old cattle trails can be dangerous.
To show it’s commitment to continuously improve visitor’s experience and safety, they commissioned a custom-made signage system for their trails, which would be later translated into a complete trail signage system, infrastructure and overall communication with the visitor.
Together with superstar artist Daniela Kovacic, we tackled this challenge by adopting a user-first method.
We also handled the terrain analysis, logistics, sourcing custom-made steel beams, transport to location and on-site (and on-horse) installation.
Having walked the same paths an average visitor would, we quickly identified the challenges and re-framed our project. We understood that our goal was to minimise the user’s navigational uncertainties while providing reassurance that their destination lies ahead.
A key part of the research was interviewing the people behind the trails and maintenance. They know these roads like the back of their hands, but if the solution is too complicated or doesn’t fit their own methods and infrastructure, it quickly becomes a problem.
We designed a modular information and structural system, based on untreated steel beams, that would naturally age and give each sign a character of its own. The lightweight yet strong structure meant that it was easily transported and required simple tools to install.
The signs feature a base layer of refractive adhesive, a middle layer with information and a final layer of UV protection. This ensures its durability and makes every sign easy to spot when wearing a head torch, from at least 60 metres, in low-light conditions.
IT ALL BEGINS TO CLICK ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENT’S NEEDS AND, OCCASIONALLY, THEIR ESTATE'S TOPOGRAPHY.
CREDITS
Designer
DANIELA KOVACIC