American University
Unifying Interior Signage and Graphics to Improve Campus Experience
American University, a student-centered research institution in Washington, DC, is known for its internationally-renowned faculty and commitment to developing leaders who create meaningful change in the world. With a campus of more than 50 buildings, supporting that mission requires spaces that are not only inspiring but also easy to navigate. Like many universities, AU faced challenges rooted in scale and history: signage had evolved piecemeal, resulting in mismatched designs, inconsistent terminology, and uneven wayfinding effectiveness. By developing a unified interior standard, AU replaced confusion with clarity, creating a cohesive visual language and signage system that supports both the campus experience and the AU brand.
LOCATION:
Washington, DC
Products:
Takeform’s partnership with AU grew from a familiar connection – a stakeholder who had previously worked with the firm and recognized the value of a consistent, campus-wide approach to signage and graphics. What began as a discussion about interior standards quickly evolved into a broader collaboration, formalized through a Master Services Agreement (MSA) that allowed AU to work directly with Takeform and streamline project workflows. Over time, this relationship expanded to include multiple campus facilities, enabling AU to implement cohesive, high-quality signage across a range of building types while maintaining design integrity and operational efficiency.
Adding Brand Expression
The work went beyond functional signage. Experiential graphics –including large-scale wallcoverings, dimensional letters, and window film – were introduced in lobbies, corridors, study areas, and student lounges to bring texture, personality, and brand identity into high-traffic and student-focused spaces. These graphic elements worked alongside wayfinding to not only guide people through the buildings, but also create a sense of place that felt distinctly AU.
Shaping First Impressions
From prospective students on a campus tour to parents attending orientation or faculty navigating a new building, clear wayfinding paired with thoughtfully designed graphics creates a welcoming first impression. The campus feels intentional and cohesive, with every visual element reinforcing AU’s identity and commitment to providing spaces where people can focus less on finding their way and more on engaging with the university experience.
Keeping Stakeholders Engaged
Collaboration with AU stakeholders was essential to the success of this work. With so many voices involved in decision-making – facilities, planning, accessibility, branding, and student life – the process could have easily stalled. Instead, AU and Takeform hosted a weekly call to share progress, gather feedback, and refine details. This steady rhythm kept projects moving forward while building trust among stakeholders, ensuring that the final solutions reflected the needs of the entire campus community.
Progressive Interior Design
These AU interiors are more progressive than traditional campus buildings, giving room for creative solutions that balanced function and expression. Signage systems needed to be clear and consistent to support navigation, but also flexible enough to complement the modern finishes and layouts. Meanwhile, the graphics provided an opportunity to highlight AU’s identity, bringing the university’s values and culture forward in a way that was approachable for students, faculty, and visitors alike.
Establishing Consistency
Through this collaboration, AU established a unified interior signage and graphics standard that could be adapted across multiple projects. This consistency reduced confusion, strengthened the visual brand, and set a foundation for future campus development – a practical framework for a university managing growth and modernization across diverse facilities.
Strategic Investment
American University’s investment in interior signage and graphics is more than an operational improvement; it’s a strategic tool for shaping campus experience. By pairing consistent wayfinding with expressive graphics, AU has created interiors that are as intuitive as they are inspiring – a model for how higher education environments can evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and growing community.
Our Work in Education
Towson University
Towson’s Facilities Department began working with Takeform in 2019, drawn to our design+build approach to creating signage. Unlike previous experiences with multiple companies, Towson appreciated having a single partner that offered all the necessary expertise and capabilities under one roof.
Keuka College
The new phase of Keuka College's wayfinding project focused on expanding navigation to include both vehicular updates and a comprehensive pedestrian wayfinding solution, addressing the needs of a growing and evolving campus.
University of Houston
When the University of Houston Clear Lake campus needed a total replacement of their aging exterior signage system, they knew it would be no small task.