Wayfinding & Signage

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts Wayfinding, Signage

Aesthetically diverse, seamlessly united

Larsen began developing a wayfinding system for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts a dozen years ago. Back then, we created a sophisticated beveled-edge design that was carried throughout the building on object tags, donor plaques, and directional signs. It was a quiet working relationship that picked up steam when the MIA underwent a major renovation and expansion. The reinvented space includes a new wing designed by Michael Graves & Associates and 34 new galleries. Most unusual, though, was the architectural merging of the original neoclassical 1915 building with the stark minimalism of Kenzo Tange's 1974 addition and Graves's postmodern 2006 wing. To keep visitors from wondering if they'd wandered off the grounds, Larsen kept signage strongly consistent and conveyed an unspoken message: the MIA is aesthetically diverse, but seamlessly united.