PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

Outfitting four floors of fun.

The Explore & More dimensional logo features the sun, formed from paintbrush strokes, to reflect the creativity and playfulness of the destination (which includes an art studio on the top floor).

Play-based learning is a vital part of childhood – and a cultural centerpiece in Buffalo

From humble beginnings in 1994, Buffalo, N.Y.'s Explore & More (The Ralph C. Wilson Children's Museum) has blossomed into a waterfront destination where the Erie Canal once bustled—a 43,000 square-foot, four-story museum as lively as the canal in its heyday. Vibrant, playful, and endlessly entertaining, Explore & More features hands-on exhibits that tell the Buffalo's unique story, from its history and geography to its architecture and industry.

Vivid image-intense signage platform brought the interior wayfinding system and related signage such as room IDs to life - vibrantly.

When the new site broke ground in 2017, Takeform followed its progress closely, ready to spring into action when the moment called for the firm's expertise.

The museum's mission statement gets the pop it needs from the Ethos dimensional letters.

The brand's rounded letterforms inspired the round shapes of the interior signage.

“This was on our radar as new construction, so we introduced ourselves and began working directly with the client." –Christian Borgal, Takeform Account Manager

The Explore & More brand uses primary colors, so Takeform's in-house designers came up with concept and scheme that used secondary colors to make wayfinding distinct.

Moxie graphic panels deliver directories inside the stairwell at each level that reflect the brand's colorful energy while meeting fire code.

Takeform started drafting concepts for wayfinding, interior, and exterior signage in January 2019. Graphics throughout the space had to be clean and distinctive to avoid competing with the museum's interactive exhibits. The folks at Explore & More provided their brand guidelines to Takeform's in-house studio, and the team devised a unique color scheme to correspond with the four floors of the space to make wayfinding easier for visitors.

A busy body of water.

Exterior signage—including the dimensional graphics and Ethos raised lettering—would require Takeform to secure municipal permits along with fabrication and installation. And installing the signs presented a unique logistical challenge: There's public pond on two sides of the building's exterior, separated by just 10 feet.

Awning letters made from painted solid cut aluminum.

Exterior signage included this signature installation featuring a larger-than-life fabricated aluminum paint brush making its colorful mark up the side of the museum.

A closer pre-install look at the fabricated paint brush.

“We had to get in there before Mother's Day weekend to install the signage while the pond had been drained after winter and before it was refilled for paddleboaters. It's downtown, so there's high traffic, a lot of pedestrians. But it all went smoothly, thanks to constant communication with our in-house installation department, the city, and the contractor." –Christian Borgal, Takeform Account Manager

The work goes on.

The initial project was a five-month engagement but the work continued. Later projects have included other tenants within the museum complex, including the Low Bridge Café, the BFLO Store.

Takeform produced the ADA signage and window films for the Low Bridge Café.

For the BFLO store, Takeform produced exterior dimensional letters and sign.

“After the grand opening, they continued adding more projects—a great ongoing relationship."
–Christian Borgal, Takeform Account Manager