Finding Your Way in Old Parliament House

Though the politicians have moved on to more opulent digs, the historically important Old Parliament House (Canberra) lives on as a museum, exhibition space and function centre. In 2008 Chameleon Print Design was tasked by interpretive design specialists Convergence Design with designing a detailed wayfinding scheme for the sprawling building. Our brief was to reflect and preserve the heritage fabric of the building while at the same time projecting a contemporary, approachable aesthetic. The wayfinding signs/objects were in large part free-standing, as most of the building is heritage listed and therefore off-limits to intrusive fixings.

After two visits to Old Parliament House, extensive long-distance collaboration and many interations, we compiled a comprehensive report spelling out the various wayfinding levels, patternation, colour schemes, type selection and readability. Some samples of the report and other interpretive design may be viewed below and here.

signage and wayfinding, Old Parliament House