As Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust are committed to sharing places of natural beauty and historic interest with everyone. Working with the architects ZMMA, Studio Eger were commissioned to design the graphics for a base layer permanent interpretation prototype, to engage audiences with self-led interpretation in a more accessible way.

With the ambition to create a simple system available to all properties, the approach had to work within the Trust’s diverse portfolio and appeal to a broad audience. Collaborating with ZMMA, the project considered two approaches: the first, a ‘permanent’ option, and the second, a ‘light touch’ option.

The permanent approach provided a regimented typographic solution, which would allow for concisely written interpretation but could not be updated easily. It also had a set of bilingual panels, which allowed for a consistent approach across properties around the UK, including Wales.

The ‘light touch’ approach was more flexible, using a paper-like material, which celebrated storytelling and the idea the interpretation had ‘blown into the room like a page missing from a book.’ This approach could be updated regularly, to elevate the materiality of paper, and sit sympathetically within the property interiors.

A hand-held option supported both approaches supported to star objects and areas of interest. The paddles used the visual language of a painter’s palette.

Lead designer: ZMMA
Screenshots taken from the National Trust’s Virtual Visit video. All rights reserved the National Trust™