Tiled wayfinding for a London estate, by Hat-Trick Design

Hat-Trick Design has created a tile-based wayfinding system for the Stockwell Park Estate Development in south London in a bid to make it ‘more accessible and welcoming’.

Tiles by Linda Florence

Culture and placemaking consultancy Future City appointed Hat-trick as part of a cultural strategy it was devising for housing association alliance Network Housing Group.

Tiles by Erica Wakerly

Signs needed to be ‘clear and simple’ acting as an aid for residents of the estate and first time visitors according to Hat-trick creative director Gareth Howat who says the system needed to be adaptable so it could be accommodated by various buildings and surfaces.

Tile by Erica Wakerly

Howat says, ‘Our concept is based on a modular system of tiles, combined with a bespoke palette of patterns. This gives a balance of both functionality and personality.
‘The tile system allows the signage to adapt to a range of surfaces and configurations to suit the variety of surroundings the wayfinding has to work in.’

Hat-trick commissioned local artists and designers to create a palette of patterns, inspired by local history, culture and architecture.

Howat says, ‘This ranged from pattern maker Linda Florence, designers Telegramme, illustrator Rebecca Sutherland, through to a local graffiti artist called Boyd; the Estate is famous for its skate park and graffiti wall.

Tile by by Boyd

‘The idea was to create a striking, bold and eclectic mix of styles to represent the diversity of the area.’

Tiles by Telegramme

These patterns have been applied to a range of signs and surfaces including bird boxes which were given tiled roofs and placed around the estate.

(Tue, 11 Feb 2014 | By Tom Banks)