Conceptually designed by Aspect Studios, Best Group were subsequently engaged by the City of Casey to undertake design development implementation of a new wayfinding signage project to re-energise the tired ‘Casey Complex’ in Cranbourne Victoria.

City of Casey represents one of Victoria’s (and Australia’s) largest local government growth municipalities, and the revitalisation of the Case Complex celebrates yet another public realm precinct for the people of Casey to engage with, and enjoy.

Following months’ of work to finalise scope of works (including quantity and location), Best Group has utilised our wayfinding signage design and construct expertise to undertake the following elements for the City of Casey:

- Wayfinding Signage Message Scheduling
- Wayfinding Signage Allocation Planning
- Wayfinding Map Development
- Development and resolution of material palette
- Wayfinding Signage Prototyping
- Head Contractor status for the ‘Manufacture & Implementation’ of all signage components
- Site Management

Currently in production, the majority of the colourful signage decorative elements are being completed in the manufacturing technique of vitreous enamel and Best Group have worked hard with the sole supplier in Australia to get this 100% correct in terms of colour representation.

The team at Best Group commend both the City of Casey and design consultant Aspect Studios for the new design, and look forward to the successful implementation and completion of this project.

Some images of production process follow.

It’s in production, and its slightly exciting to see our design intent finally come to life for new architectural signage to be installed at the landmark Aerial property development in Melbourne’s Camberwell Junction.

Best Group has been working with FKP Property in a ‘design and construct’ capacity to develop architectural signage to effectively brand what has been a landmark development for the Camberwell Junction precinct over the past 3 years.

Encompassing a former heritage church, FKP has developed and built a mixed use residential and retail high level tower named ‘Aerial’ that has most certainly redefined the aesthetic landscape of Camberwell.

Our industrial design team have worked to develop a branded element that will adorn the main tower entrance point. In answering the brief; the Best Group team have developed a solution that enables brand presence both during the day and at night, with the introduction of custom colour balance RGB LED to the internally illuminated letters.

During the day, the brand appears white (to maximise impact against the architectural palette in the background) and at night, ‘Aerial’ lights up the streetscape in a custom blended ‘green’ colour that has been tweaked to match a particular anodised aluminium product that forms part of the architectural finishes palette on street level (sourced from Europe).

This coordinated and complementary approach ensures that the architectural signage integrates with the space and effectively enables the building to be branded permanently for residents, tenants and the wider Camberwell audience.

The result is a considered architectural signage design that deploys and integrates innovative technology to ensure it complements the architectural significance of this new Camberwell landmark icon.

Following our appointment as ongoing ‘built brand’ consultants, Best Group has developed and delivered a new set of signage style guidelines for Quest Corporate in the first quarter of 2013.

This new signage design strategy places a renewed focus on the importance of signage as a brand communication medium for the Australia’s largest accommodation provider and is a much more considered approach to how internal and external brand presentation feeds into certain aspects of the overall Quest customer experience.

Last week marked the opening of Quest on Franklin in Adelaide, South Australia. This is one of the first new properties delivered with the new built brand signage design throughout their Australian network.

We are THRILLED with the result; the implemented, as-built design just reiterates our design objectives. It’s on-brand, on-experience and we are excited about seeing this new signage design gradually roll out across the Quest franchise network throughout Australia.

It’s yet another Monday AM… and ‘routinely’ I am up to my third Long Mac for the day. Subconsciously, as a Melbourn’ite, I have trained and coaxed my existence into an apparent need for caffeine to kick start my day.

BUT… pondering over this concept perplexes me to delve more into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ this habitual routine has engulfed my life (and indeed, lifestyle)

As a marketing professional; I’ve observed the past decade transpire and confidentially proclaim that it be labelled the ‘lifestyle decade’. We have seen nearly every industry attempt to increase market share by creating (and indeed promoting) products and services that evoke our ambition for a ‘better’ lifestyle.

With this in mind; its back to the coffee. My working week consists of an in-built desire to enjoy reading the paper, eating a cooked breakfast over umpteen coffees. All within an ‘environment’ of a cafe. My weekends (classified as ‘social’ time) are surprisingly spent doing exactly the same.

As I watch the dollars pour out on items that we are continually told can be enjoyed for ‘less’ at home; I ask what it is that drives me to continue this habitual behaviour?

I put it down to an urban’ism concept (cliched as many may sound) of belonging and experiencing; with food, and with people!

A friend reiterated this via a facebook status this morning. ‘I seriously love how your local cafe becomes your little family’ is what was stated for their social media network to read… and I couldnt agree more.

Working professionally in built experiences, together with immersing myself in being a true Melbourne urbanite (inner-city resident), I epitomise the cliche of the ‘Melbourne Cafe Culture’.

The reason I continue to invest in this ‘lifestyle’ choice is simple. I enjoy it. Its an experience, and a bloody good one at that! I have a passion and love for food, for coffee, and I am often described as an extrovert; hence the love for being around people. Each time I make a conscious decision to go to a cafe (whether alone, or with friends), it is another social experience. And as these experiences increase in frequency, you become whats known in cafe terms as a ‘regular’. This concept is where the sense of belonging comes from that my friend was referring to in his facebook post.

I have made friends, we chat about more than just what I am ordering… we people watch, we drink coffee, we laugh, we smile… Its human interaction at its best, and I LOVE it.

Its not about the money, its about the ‘experience’… indeed a ‘belonging’… and I encourage all other fellow urbanites to board the train!

Having traveled locally and internationally (for leisure and for business), there are many cafe cultures emerging and trying to leverage this increasingly popular lifestyle industry. There is no place that does it better than Melbourne… we have created, leveraged and sustained. And we continue to evolve it… with new openings the cornerstone of the immersed sub-culture.

With a new venue on the horizon most weeks here in Melbourne; I try in pursuit of all those things I have just discussed. And what amazes me (proving my point) is that sometimes, its not even about the food or coffee. That suddenly becomes an augmented product in the overall ‘experience’. Ive had mediocre food and coffee at a place where I simply enjoy the experience.

Its a funny, subconscious lifestyle culture… but for one, Im not intending to stop anytime soon!

Best Group is thrilled to announce its successful appointment as ongoing signage consultant and project manager for NSW government property agency ‘Government Property NSW’.

Following the successful development and testing of a new GPNSW signage style guide throughout 2012, the agency is now rolling out the new elements to its network of property assets throughout the state (including several key government buildings in Sydney CBD).

The project includes integration of a new technological ‘tenant directory’ system to a number of the assets, together with new external identification signage and statutory/compliance signage items.

‘Our team are thrilled to be involved in this large scale project, and indeed, to continue our successful partnership with the NSW State Government into 2013. Signage Consultancy and Project Management of multi-site rebranding projects is something we are all passionate about here at Best Group, and we look forward to being able to add value to the overall project outcome’, Best Group Projects Director Jacob Burke said.

The new style guidelines developed by Best Group in 2012 includes several new signage family types that minimise long term, life cycle signage costs for GPNSW. ‘The new platform of signage being rolled out helps better identify government property and associated service delivery for the people of NSW, whilst balancing expenditure for the managing agency in the long term’, Jacob said.

Best Group has reaffirmed its commitment to blending both static and active branded signage elements with the introduction of a new centrally controlled digital system for managing ‘tenant directories across the property asset network. ‘This is ground breaking for a government agency, and with the selected technology partner, will represent one of the largest directory screen networks within NSW’, Jacob said.

‘We are passionate about driving the future, and we were so excited that GPNSW was on board right from the start with a new way of doing things. It will provide significant long term cost efficiencies to the agency’, he said.

The signage consultancy services to be undertaken by Best Group on behalf of GPNSW includes:

- Signage Audit Data Rationalisation
- Individual Site Signage Documentation
- Tender/EOI Management
- Budget Management
- Risk Management
- Contractor Management (Manufacture/Installation)

It is envisaged that the new signage will be rolled out to nearly 100 sites throughout NSW (metro and regional) by June 30 2013.

I’ve been around the traps now for a fair while in the ‘signage game’.
And; if there is one aspect of project execution that I fundamentally believe in, its ‘Prototyping’.

Inevitably, most large scale signage projects have direct involvement by numerous (sometimes far reaching) stakeholder groups. Throughout the project journey,  we as managers have the task of ‘selling’ design and strategic direction on paper; which is never an easy task. To take the

My team has now been working with Sydney Harbour Federation Trust for over twelve months on wayfinding strategy and associated signage design for the landmark North Head Sanctuary, Manly.

Delivering an integrated, holistic wayfinding strategy and signage design package for over  70 hectares of natural Sydney harbour landscape has been a complex and extremely rewarding process, and indeed, experience. Due to the significance of both the land itself, together with the nature of its mixed use, this project has had a large stakeholder group that have been actively engaged throughout the project; all with varied needs and desires. The fundamental role of Best Group as a consultant has been to carefully accommodate and balance these requirements, whilst not detracting from the original project objectives (increasing positive visitor experience through improved navigation)

An integral aspect to the Best Group methodology was to ‘prototype’ the newly designed ‘Signage Family’ and install on-site so that all stakeholder groups could engage with the new design and strategy in real life.

For what has been on paper in both strategy and design  for over twelve months; conceptualized, tweaked and refined along the way was installed last week on-site at North Head Sanctuary for all to review in person, together.

The outcome of these discussions was positive and we look forward to the project being implemented, and realised in the next few months.

This session, however, did just confirm to me why ‘prototyping’ like this is so critical. It creates the following:

- A sense of ‘real-life’ involvement for all stakeholders
- An opportunity to see designs that have been on A4/A3 paper at real size, and in its environment
- An opportunity for stakeholders to review scale, heirachy of information, text/map size
- A process whereby the project team thrash out concerns and the most appropriate solution, together and collaboratively

Overall; this session facilitated time for the entire project team to get out of the office, away from familiar surroundings (including reports, documents, meeting rooms, emails and phone calls) and fully immerse ourselves into the core premise of the project. That is; to implement a new wayfinding signage design and strategy to improve user navigation and experience.

For the day; we were the visitors… and we could check that the new wayfinding sign family ‘worked’ per our strategy and mapping, and that the experience and information delivery was accurate and seamless. And; it was!

The result (as it always is with this process) as rewarding and engaging for ALL members. We are extremely excited about seeing this wayfinding project come to life in the next three months and Ive included some snaps of the day!

It’s about finding the best way forward! (And enjoying the sunshine along the way!)

Jake

BE Branding… the concept that came from today’s Best Group team outing to ‘Open Space’ at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

When I signed up to take my team out on a day trip; the term OPEN SPACE conjured ideas and thinking around the literal concept; ‘open + space’. Instead, what we enjoyed was a perplexed presentation on the notion of human connection and how that relates to business.

The audience of the free event was taken on a journey of reflection and discovery about what makes us ‘tick’ and how in essence, instinctively, humans feel, THEN think. (I must say, sometimes I am guilty of being the EXACT opposite to that)

The concept of ‘BE Branding’ really struck a chord with me… and the wider BG team in general. In essence, its about

1. BElief
2. BElong
3. BEhave

Combined is when business thrives… for all stakeholders in business (customers/staff/leaders) there is a sense of connected’ness; a purpose (a BElief) which naturally derives belonging and in turn, shapes beahviour!

We’ve most certainly got a BElief here at BG… and today has just prompted me to lead and entrench this purpose more and more into everyday communciations and interactions with staff and clients!

One thing I am proud to state is a culture that fosters taking risks, idea creation (nothing is ever too stupid or ‘far fetched’ in here) and challenging the status quo in everything we do! Its inspiring…

Free events like this should be praised as part of the business scene in Melbourne; they get teams (indeed individuals) AWAY from desks, meeting rooms, phones and the dreaded lurgy of instantaneous availability on email to help us put things in perspective.

All too often, we get wrapped up in the pedantics of everyday business life (budgets, targets, client requirements, monotonous task exertion) and put the wider concept of ‘being’ and ‘interacting’ into focus.

Life is about sometimes being crazy… taking risks… being politically incorrect… stating the UN-obvious and speaking a belief.

Just take 5 mins to think about all of that… like many other successful leaders/brands/businesses around the world; I think more of us can go that extra mile and ‘humanise’ what we do. At every turn!

Congrats to the MCEC team for delivering this inaugural event free to the business public of Melbourne; the world’s most livable city!

“Best Group were selected from several agencies to define a wayfinding strategy, develop signage concepts and manage the end-to-end wayfinding project for North Head Sanctuary, 72 hectares of national parklands in Manly, Sydney.

Despite being a very complex project with several stakeholder groups, Best Group quickly proved their ability to translate complex problems into logical solutions which met critical business objectives and which ultimately enhanced the visitor experience.

Best Group demonstrated superior knowledge and experience in best practise principals relating to wayfinding, communications, visitor experience, design and construction and signage solutions. They are an innovative agency, offering practical solutions to problems with proven ability to think strategically while equally being able to translate ideas into clear implementation plans.  In addition they are responsive, open and effective communicators, helpful, calm under pressure and offer outstanding account management service – making the day-to-day management and working relationship very enjoyable. I would highly recommend Best Group as a leading consultancy in their field.”

Amanda Fiddes
Marketing Manager
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust

Following the development of a new ‘Franchise Retail Design’ style guide for Barry Plant Corporate in 2012, Best Group is now being engaged by several offices to apply the new look and feel to Victoria’s largest real estate franchise network.

Prior to Christmas 2012, Best Group were engaged to design and construct the new Rosebud office; the latest addition to the growing franchise network. Working with both the corporate office and the franchisee, Best Group applied the new style guide to the selected retail space and managed the fitout of all elements.

The result is brilliant and is a true reflection of the overall retail design intent for the Barry Plant brand. Delivering all elements ready for an official opening on January 14th 2013.

Of the overall retail design concept, Barry Plant Marketing Manager Shiona Pearson said, “I have been working with Jacob Burke from the Best Group for ten years – initially as a signage company where they provided high quality solutions to the signage requirements of a range of Barry Plant offices. Recently we utilised their skills in work space management and interior design to create a vision and a style guide for the interiors of our real estate offices.  This involved research into typical real estate office workflow and space utilisation as well as strategizing about the ultimate customer experience.  As a result of recommendations from the Best Group we ended up totally re-thinking our client spaces.  We went from a look that was all about re-enforcing our branding at every opportunity and impressing (we thought) every client with a minimalist, sleek, über professional reception area to an look that was warm, welcoming and reflected through fabric and texture elements of homes – the product we deal in”.

Best Group is continuing to work with franchisee offices on updating their offices to reflect the new look and feel; all in a combined and considered effort to increase the consistency of retail design across the franchise network to bolster the customer experience and engagement in the built environment.

The team at Best Group congratulate Craig, Rod and the team at Rosebud and wish them every success as the office develops in the Rosebud area.