Signage instructions
Graphic elements
The signage of the City of Helsinki is based on the elements of the City of Helsinki’s visual identity. The Helsinki framed logo, colours and typography wrap the signage into a visible and integrated part of the Helsinki brand.
Framed logo
The Helsinki framed logo is a highly visible part of the signage, in the first contact area of buildings and places.
The primary function of the Helsinki framed logo is to tell that the building or place is a City of Helsinki property.
Established buildings and places may use their own framed logo as part of the signage, instead of the Helsinki framed logo. Such properties are, among others, Helsinki central library Oodi and Helsinki City Hall.
Typography
The typography of City of Helsinki’s signage is based on the typography of the visual identity of the City of Helsinki.
As opposed to the other parts of the visual identity, the signage uses only one typeface Helsinki Grotesk Medium.
In terms of thickness, Helsinki Grotesk Medium is optimal for the signage.
Colours
In terms of the City of Helsinki colour palette, black and/or white are the primary colours to be used in the signage. This is to ensure the required resolution and readability.
The materials used in the signage are determined according to the building or the object. The colour of the graphic elements of the signage must be chosen in a way which ensures that the difference between the elements and the background material is sufficient.
Other colours of the City of Helsinki’s colour palette must be used with consideration.
Signage icons
The signage icons used in the City of Helsinki’s signage are, in terms of the design language, based on the Helsinki Grotesk font.
The signage icons have been designed and compiled into a library. Only the City of Helsinki’s own signage icons can be used in the signage.
A protected area (in grey) has been defined for the signage icon, which must be taken into consideration when using the icons.
Joint use of typography and icons
The signage icons can be used in the text, in which case the icons are scaled in accordance with the size of the text (A).
Alternatively, the signage icons can be used as own, separate elements, in which case their size is defined in accordance with the given protected area. (B, C).
Several languages
When the signage is multilingual, the different languages must be positioned on their own separate rows. (A, B).
If the text content is notably extensive, then the different languages can be grouped into own columns (C).
Outdoor signage
The City of Helsinki’s outdoor signage consists of the framed logo and a text section placed under it.
The name of the place or a description and an address can be positioned under the Helsinki framed logo.
The protected area (see Protected area around the logo) must be considered in the use of the Helsinki framed logo.
The size of the outdoor signage is established according to the size and contents of the signage surface.
Placing only a street address under the Helsinki framed logo is also possible.
When the building or place to be provided with signage has an established name among the citizens, then the Helsinki framed logo can be replaced by the respective framed logo of the building or place.
The framed logo can also be used without the text content underneath.
The language of the Helsinki framed logo is determined by the languages of the user group in the building or object to be provided with signage.
For example, using the Finnish framed logo is justified in schools where Finnish is used as the teaching language.
Floor and main signage
The floor and main signage consists of a floor number, a signage text part and the floor plan.
A sufficient distance between the signage elements must be considered in the positioning. The recommended distance between the elements is based on the protected area of the Helsinki framed logo.
The size of the floor and main signage is defined according to the size and contents of the signage surface.
The floor signage contains signage information of at least one floor. The main signage is a broader collection of the signage information of the entire building or place. Alternatively, the floor and main signage can also be formed in a way where each information element is positioned on its own background.
Direction signage
The direction signage consists of a text part and signage icons.
The signage icons can be placed as part of the text, in which case the size of them is determined according to the text size.
The text on the direction signage must be positioned on the opposite side of the arrow showing the direction.
The size of the direction signage is defined according to the size and contents of the signage surface.
The signage icons can also be used in direction signage free from the text on their own backgrounds. The size of the signage icons is determined according to their protected area.
If the text part is not connected to the signage icon, then the text must be aligned to the left.
If the direction signage is multilingual, then each language is positioned on its own row.
Room signage
The room signage is realised according to the principles of the direction signage, aligned to the left and each language positioned on its own row.
Alternatively, the room signage can also be centralised.
The size of the room signage is defined according to the size and contents of the signage surface.
Icon room signage
The icon room signage is realised according to the given protected area in square format.
The size of the icon room signage is defined according to the size of the signage surface. The icon room signage must be sizewise in line with the room signage.
Floor number signage
The floor number signage is realised in square format, where the floor number is positioned in the centre of the surface.
In the positioning of the number, attention must be paid to the upper and lower minimum margin of the surface.
The size of the floor number signage is defined according to the size and contents of the signage surface.
Signage examples
