Microlab is a big place. We’ve now developed some 4.000 square meters of maker space and offices. That means people can get lost, especially if they’re here for the first time. So, we needed wayfinding signage throughout the ground floor. Preferably signage that matched our house style and brand (more on that in a later post).

There are a bunch of ways to do this:

1. Find a signage company and have them take care of everything
2. Find one of our members to do the whole thing
3. Stick to our principles and find a collaborative way that involves a bunch of our members in ad hoc manner.

Guess which one we picked?

Step 1: Design by Lente Label

Iris and Louise (Lente Label) used the house style and brand developed by EDHV to created the design for our unique signage. Some of the key points they had to take into account:

Broadly speaking, we have three types of visitors:

1. Some come only once or twice. Perhaps for a workshop, meeting with one of our members or one of our external events. These people are more likely to care where the toilets, exits and coffee are.
2. Others are part of the maker community who form our dirty side. They are interested in the machine parks, paint room, ceramics workshop and coffee.
3. The third kind are our office members on the clean side. They’re more likely to search for meeting rooms, the event space or coffee.

Yes, our coffee seems to be the biggest bonding factor. That and the free beer.

Step 2a: Wooden frames by Luuk van Laarhoven

Luuk van Laarhoven is one of talented members. Luuk is a carpenter who creates beautiful pieces of art (including our reception desk), but he was also kindly willing to help us out by creating the wooden frames that line the brightly colored signs that point people in the right direction.

Step 2b: The printed signs by Best Image

Jan and Margot from Best Image are office members on our clean side. They are one of the coolest advertising print companies in and around Eindhoven. If you’ve been to Eindhoven, you’ll have seen their work.

Step 3: Hang the signs!

The next project was to walk around the building and hang all the signs neatly in their right positions. For this urgent job, Martin Laforet was kind enough to volunteer. Martin is a former Design Academy student who works with a number of materials. Martin works with ceramics and other materials to create furniture, interior decorations and other pieces.

The final product

Look how awesome these signs are! If you want to see them in person, come visit us at Microlab, Kastanjelaan 400 in Eindhoven!