Material Source highlights the transformation of Exchange Quay’s wayfinding totems as a masterclass in blending functionality with expressive design. Previously uniform and monochromatic, the totems now present a spectrum of colours, angles, and tonalities that change with light, perspective, and movement, creating a playful, engaging campus experience.
Lead Designer Nathalie Kenning is credited with shaping the art direction, developing context-specific colour strategies that reflect each building’s identity while maintaining cohesion across the campus. Material Source notes how her approach elevates signage into a sculptural, almost branding-like experience, encouraging a more reflective and interactive journey for users.
The coverage also emphasises the project’s broader interventions: former smoking shelters were repurposed as outdoor meeting and social spaces, reinforcing Exchange Quay’s role as a workplace destination that balances business, community, and connectivity. Sustainability was embedded in the design through precise, low-impact maintenance strategies, ensuring the totems remain fresh, adaptable, and relevant over time.
Overall, Material Source frames the Exchange Quay redesign as an example of how careful colour, composition, and movement can transform everyday wayfinding into an immersive, experiential element of a built environment – one that reflects both the energy of the campus and the considered design vision of Nathalie Kenning and the wider team.
Read the full article in Material Source