This spring, Studio SC worked with the Alliance for Pioneer Square (formerly, the Pioneer Square Community Association) and the Downtown Seattle Association to revamp the Pioneer Square map and visitor’s guide.
The main goal of the new guide was to “simplify and clarify the map,” and also to convey the excitement of Pioneer Square, says SC designer Faith Berry, project manager for the guide. “The older maps didn’t really get across the feeling of Pioneer Square, which has this cool history, but is also very modern and vibrant. So we wanted to add a little bit more life to it.”
To illustrate the blend of the historical and the modern in Pioneer Square, the new map pairs two distinct typefaces: Rockwell, a block typeface, which evokes the classical aspects of the area, and Gotham, a clean, contemporary typeface that’s often associated with modern architecture.
The orientation of the map was a priority, because in previous versions the layout was confusing, especially for tourists arriving on cruise ships—the piers are to the west of Pioneer Square, but the old maps didn’t make that very clear. To make the piers a more obvious reference point, SC expanded the map and displayed it horizontally instead of vertically. SC also included an inset map of downtown Seattle to show how Pioneer Square connects to the rest of the area.
The new guide also features more than twice as many business listings as the last guide, as well as more detailed information about some of Pioneer Square’s landmarks.
Studio SC is among the many businesses on the map that call Pioneer Square home, and the designers enjoyed working on a product to help the area. “This is our neighborhood,” Faith says, “so on a daily basis we get to see the impact the map is having on the community and how it’s helping visitors enjoy the area.”
Stay on top of the happenings in Pioneer Square by following the Alliance (@pioneersquare) on Twitter.
