Signage program for the Santa Mònica Arts Centre

The Santa Mònica Arts Centre commissioned us to design a new signage system to make routes, services, and entrances more visible and functional — both inside the building and on its façade. The project was part of the renovation of the main lobby and the lower section of La Rambla, aiming to strengthen the centre’s presence as an open, accessible, and active public space within the daily life of the city.

The process began with an in-depth phase of observation and field research that included analysing visitor flows, identifying confusion points, and conducting interviews with staff, security teams, resident artists, and other key stakeholders. This research allowed us to validate prototypes and define a graphic system rooted in real user needs and perceptions.

The challenge was to create a signage identity that would coexist harmoniously with the centre’s ever-changing exhibition graphics. We drew inspiration from the visual culture of La Rambla —its kiosks, signs, restaurant menus, and souvenirs— reinterpreting it in a contemporary, functional, and slightly ironic way.

The arrow became a central symbol: beyond indicating direction, it is repeated as a visual pattern that reinforces functionality and impact. On the outside, vinyls and graphic compositions turn the façade into a communication layer that highlights the entrance and communicates its free access. Inside, illuminated panels, directional modules, and service signs use fluorescent yellow, a complementary typeface, and materials such as wood and methacrylate to create a clear, coherent visual system.

The result is a living, flexible signage program that improves orientation, communicates with personality, and integrates as part of Santa Mònica’s visual narrative — connecting the art centre with the urban space that surrounds it.