Wayfinding that reflects Melbourne’s character, enhancing navigation with bespoke design to improve passenger experiences.

Overview
Melbourne Airport, Australia’s second busiest, serves over 40 million passengers annually. Büro North was commissioned to develop a new wayfinding and signage system that reflects Melbourne’s unique culture and character while enhancing passenger experience.

We aimed to create a system that was welcoming yet precise, catering to both first-time and frequent travellers, and building on global airport norms.

Central to our design was a custom graphic language, featuring bespoke typography and icons. We collaborated with Melbourne type designer Vincent Chan to create Transfer, a typeface that balances legibility with a distinctive Melbourne look. The typeface features squared-off characters, a taller x-height, and open counters, ensuring clarity in various lighting conditions and across different media.

Our custom icons, inspired by Melbourne’s architectural language, offer clear communication and complement the bespoke typography. They represent the diverse passenger base and are easily readable across printed, physical, and digital format. Using an intentionally limited palette, we employed variations in colour, scale, and illumination to establish a clear hierarchy of information. Bold yellow zones highlight key information, guiding passengers efficiently through their journey.

The signage design incorporates simple geometric frames, ranging from small door-mounted signs to large architectural beacons. This flexible system allows for consistent design language across different environments within the airport, enhancing navigation and creating a cohesive sense of place.

The new wayfinding system allows Melbourne Airport to continually update signage, enhancing passenger navigation and overall experience. Additionally the wayfinding standards guideline ensures seamless implementation, enabling signage contractors and secondary consultants to deliver consistently high-quality wayfinding outcomes,  as the airport undergoes various upgrades and expansions.