Image of the architecture at Balboa Park in San Diego, California. RSM Design designed the wayfinding, placemaking, donor recognition, and exhibit design.

San Diego, California

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a 1,200 acre urban cultural park in San Diego. It plays host to acres of open spaces, gardens, and walking paths, and also a number of world-class museums, theaters, and the San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park was placed on reserve in 1835 making it one of the country’s oldest sites dedicated to public recreational use, and the park and attractions draw more than 10 million visitors a year. With this many people coming to enjoy the park every year, a comprehensive signage and wayfinding program is an absolute necessity to help guide people to certain districts, attractions, and parking. RSM Design conducted a full site analysis of existing signage, identified areas for improvement, and designed a brand new set of guidelines to help create a consistent and user-friendly approach to wayfinding. Simplifying the messaging on the signs, updating the fonts and colors, and adding district locations to the signs all contributed to providing a better guest experience.

Markets

Services

Client

  • Balboa Park Conservancy
Overhead satellite image of Balboa Park in San Diego, California. Image of the gardens at Balboa Park

Balboa Park is surrounded by several vibrant neighborhoods: Downtown San Diego, Hillcrest, North Park, and Golden Hill. These surrounding neighborhoods contribute to the park’s dynamic environment and accessibility.

Signage concept drawings for Balboa Park designed by RSM Design.
Detail image of the welcome signage at Balboa Park, designed by RSM Design. Detail image of the Park Directory at Balboa Park in San Diego, California.
Image of the sign manual that RSM Design designed for Balboa Park.

RSM Design crafted a comprehensive sign manual for Balboa Park, outlining the design principles, materials, and placement strategies for signage throughout the park, ensuring consistency and ease of navigation. This serves as a guide for the future of Balboa Park, accommodating changes and improvements to come.

THE BOTANICAL BUILDING AT BALBOA PARK

The Botanical Garden in Balboa Park is one of the most visited features within Balboa Park, due to its striking architecture and beautiful gardens. RSM Design was commissioned to create a subtle family of signage to recognize the donors, educate the public about the plants, and help identify the site. Using a mix of polished natural materials and weathered gold accents, the signage helps guide visitors into and around the space and complements the architecture and natural beauty of the gardens.

Image of the exterior architecture of the Botanical Building at Balboa Park.
Close up image of the Botanical Building signage outside of the building, designed by RSM Design. Rendering drawing of the donor recognition ground signage beside the pond outside of the Botanical Building, designed by RSM Design.
Close up detail of the donor recognition plaque at the Botanical Building, beside the planters inside, designed by RSM Design. Ground plaque design by RSM Design for the Botanical Building at Balboa Park in San Diego, California.

Collaborators:

RNT Architects

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