Wayfinding specialist completes series of projects on major North East developments

Specialist wayfinding and signage company Picto Signs has completed three major installations on £62m worth of North East development projects.

The Newcastle-based, design-led company has provided the design, production and installation of all the signage at the new Rutherford Cancer Centre in Northumberland, the Darlington Hippodrome theatre and Spanish City in North Tyneside.

Established in 2002, by director Sarah Phillips, Picto Signs works across a range of sectors including education, healthcare andculture to develop and implement wayfinding schemes that help the public navigate their way around buildings.

Sarah Phillips, director at Picto, said: “Our work essentially enables people to understand and find their way through the buildings they visit. The wayfinding scheme we have developed for Rutherford Cancer Centres considers the circumstances and challenges of those who use and visit the building and its facilities.

“Working across the UK, we have established strong relationships with industry professionals, as well as architects, developers and building owners who have the responsibility to manage and operate buildings. Our particular interest is in inclusive signage, such as signage for people living with dementia, which is an emerging area in our industry.”

Located in Bedlington, the £38m state-of-the-art cancer centre is one of five being developed by Proton Partners International across the UK, after the company raised £200m to develop the facilities.

Picto has recently completed a similar project in Newport on behalf of Proton Partners and has been further appointed to provide the signage for the next two Rutherford Cancer Centres in Reading and Liverpool, working alongside project architect, JDDK.

Chris Land, centre manager at The Rutherford North East said: “From the outset we realised that getting the signage right was going to be really important. Picto are highly experienced in helping visitors find their way around spaces and were able to develop a bespoke scheme which could be applied to all the centres, with sensitivity, balancing patient needs with building the Rutherford brand. The results are excellent and allow our patients, staff and visitors to find their way around with ease.”

Picto’s other recent projects include providing a turnkey package at the Darlington Hippodrome as part of its £12m renovation, as well as developing the wayfinding for the £10m Spanish City redevelopment project in Whitley Bay, where the firm is working with ADP Architects and Robertson Construction.