Title
Approval of a Recommendation on Wayfinding Entrance Signage Design Concepts
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) approved forwarding the wayfinding signage concepts to Council for consideration on April 16, 2025; however, they directed staff to work with Tangram to revisit the entrance signage concepts in response to the Committee’s input and return to CLPS later with additional design concepts.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the recommendation for wayfinding entrance signage design concepts and move forward for City Council approval.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve wayfinding entrance signage design concepts and move them forward for City Council approval.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, City Manager’s Office, 360.753.8046]
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
George Lim, Founding Partner, Tangram Design LLC
Matthew DeLade, Principal Partner, Tangram Design LLC
Anna Juliano, Brand Specialist, Tangram Design LLC
Background and Analysis:
As the Capital City of Washington state and a regional center for arts and culture for Thurston County, it’s important that visitors and residents alike benefit from intentional and thoughtfully placed and designed entrance and citywide wayfinding signage.
Improving the ability to navigate the city using wayfinding signage has been a long-term goal for the City. The City’s Downtown Strategy notes that wayfinding signage specific to downtown needs an update. City entrance signage, such as at the intersection of Plum and Union, are outdated and use a decommissioned City logo. Other than street identification signs, West Olympia has also traditionally lacked identification, directional or informational wayfinding signage for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
A few recognized neighborhoods have created identification signage to mark the entrances into neighborhoods and orient drivers, cyclists and pedestrians; however, not all neighborhoods have the means and resources to take on such projects and the overall effect can be one of disjointedness and inequity amongst different geographic areas in the city.
In April 2024, the City hired consultant Tangram Design, LLC, to create a Citywide Wayfinding Master Plan (Plan) for Olympia. The Plan will be a guiding document that incorporates best practices in wayfinding and, through its implementation, will help position Olympia as a vibrant Capital City; a cool, Pacific Northwest urban center; and an interesting and dynamic destination with attractive amenities and welcoming neighborhoods.
The objectives and strategies built into the Plan will center the user experience of community members and visitors, in addition to its focus on strengthening and showcasing the vibrancy and offerings of the City of Olympia. The plan will embrace Olympia’s unique character, rich history, and its inherent assets.
Tangram has visited Olympia and engaged community members throughout the process, specifically holding stakeholder engagements at Olympia City Hall on June 12, 2024, November 13, 2024, and February 28, 2025. Tangram used the community stakeholder feedback to arrive at initial signage design concepts, which were shared on Engage Olympia in March 2025 for broader community feedback.
After additional refinement in response to community input, Tangram presented concept designs for the wayfinding and entrance signs to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee (CLPS) on April 16, 2025. Committee members approved forwarding the wayfinding signage concepts to Council for consideration; however, they asked that Tangram revisit the entrance signage in response to the Committee’s input and return to CLPS later with additional design concepts.
On June 3, 2025, Council considered and approved the design concepts for wayfinding signage as recommended by CLPS. The purpose of this agenda item is for Tangram to share alternative entrance signage concepts that bring together the design concepts supported by the engagement process and input shared by Committee members during the initial presentation and discussion.
Climate Analysis:
Wayfinding best practices include considering the needs of community members using a variety of modes of transportation to move around the city, including those modes in which the City encourages to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as biking, walking, rolling, and using public transit.
Equity Analysis:
Intentional wayfinding that is designed using best practices considers the accessibility and mobility needs of all visitors and community members, including individuals with varying levels of mobility, literacy, and comfort with the English language. By engaging with the community and incorporating historical context into the design process, this work also provides an opportunity to embrace and reflect the deep cultural history of our area through language, location, and design elements.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Various community partners, with an emphasis on the creative community contributed throughout the design process, and community members provided input on design concepts through Engage Olympia. All community members, however, benefit from improved wayfinding, whether through an enhanced ability to find certain locations or direct and/or attract others to locations.
Financial Impact:
The contract amount for Tangram Design LLC, $78,000, has been accounted for in the 2025 Strategic Communications budget. An additional $10,000 was added to the project to revisit design concepts after an initial round of review by Council.
Options:
1. Move to approve the recommendation for wayfinding entrance signage design concepts and move forward for City Council approval.
2. Approve the recommendation for wayfinding entrance signage design concepts with modifications as directed by the Committee and move forward for City Council approval.
3. Do not approve the recommendation for wayfinding entrance signage design concepts and do not move forward for City Council approval.
Attachments:
Presentation