Navigating the Fitzroy campus had long been a challenge. With six buildings, multiple entry points, and a naming system that made sense to insiders but not to visitors, finding your way was harder than it should have been. We were brought in to change that.
As with many of our projects, the starting point was a Gap Analysis—a perfect tool for management to get a quick and accurate understanding of the current problems, their consequences, and the way forward. The analysis showed that the patient experience was not meeting expectations, and there were far too many missed appointments because people simply couldn’t get to their destination in time. That finding became the catalyst for developing a new strategy.
Project
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
Client
St Vincents
Collaborators
Location
Melbourne Australia
Size
Project Build Cost
Focus
Wayfinding
Our task was to develop a wayfinding strategy and signage system that worked across the entire St Vincent’s public hospital campus in Melbourne. Working closely with the hospital team, we created a system that felt intuitive for patients and visitors while maintaining the integrity of the hospital's identity and operations.
Instead of relying on long and often ambiguous building names, we introduced an alphanumeric coding system. Each building received a simple, unique code—a letter and number—used consistently across signage, maps, appointment letters, and digital touchpoints. The original building names were not removed but instead retained on the buildings themselves, offering familiarity for staff and long-term users while simplifying navigation for everyone else.
This approach is common in other complex environments—think airport gates, supermarket aisles, or street numbering—but it was a significant shift for the hospital. The result is a system that reduces stress and saves time for patients, staff, and visitors alike.
The signage design aligns with and extends the St Vincent’s brand, creating a unified visual language across the campus. The new system doesn't just guide people through the environment—it reinforces a sense of clarity, calm, and care from the moment you arrive.
