In advance of a permanent system which is also being developed with industrial design specialists Billings Jackson Studio, 15 special-event signs have been designed and deployed in strategic locations across Center City. They can be updated, re-located and re-deployed as required, and have been built to last for use at future events.

Developed as a resource to be updated and recirculated on a regular basis, a large format print map and area guide welcomes people and encourages exploration. Given out by CCD ambassadors and freely distributed at visitor information centers and hotel lobbies, it is available in both folded and tear-off formats and has been translated into multiple languages and made available to download on the go.

Underpinning these initial outputs are the program’s design elements which are being evolved for the emerging future system. These include a royalty-free master base map and bespoke visual identity. City ID, with engagement input from the client team and project stakeholders have generated all topographic material, a unified content database, and an illustrative design language inspired by the city. The design elements include a set of over 40 unique pictograms and 40 specially designed landmarks drawn in two variants of detail for use in different outputs.

Core to the design language is a customized typeface by Commercial Type. Originally drawn as a study of the unique letter forms of Pennsylvania vehicle license plates, the typeface ‘Pennsylvania’ was selected as the basis for a modification specifically for Philadelphia. An exclusive new style was created to balance the personality of the original typeface with the functionality required for the demands of information and wayfinding.