A town-wide wayfinding and placemaking
Bognor Regis is a distinctive coastal town with a strong community identity, lively centre and deep connection to its seaside heritage. As part of its wider regeneration, Richard Wolfströme was commissioned to develop a town-wide wayfinding strategy in collaboration with the Bognor Regis Regeneration Board, Business Improvement District, local councils, the University and local businesses.
The strategy identified key pedestrian routes linking major destinations and attractions, supported by a bold visual language rooted in the character of the town. Colourful signage combines formal and colloquial language with place-specific interpretation, while a family of geometric artworks brings a strong and recognisable sense of place to the streetscape.
Community engagement sat at the heart of the project. Over the course of a year, town-centre drop-ins, pop-up events and focused sessions with local organisations invited people of all ages to contribute. More than 200 individual designs were created using a shared geometric framework and colour palette, with selected ideas developed into artworks across the scheme. The result is a visual identity shaped with the community rather than simply for it.
Wherever possible, existing infrastructure was retained and reimagined. Wayfinding totems were retrofitted and wrapped, street furniture and seating enhanced, display boards updated, and a playful trail of lamp-post collars introduced to strengthen pedestrian connections through the town. Materials and finishes were selected for durability, low maintenance and resilience within the coastal environment.
The project goes beyond navigation. It strengthens connectivity, supports walking and active travel, reveals local stories and transforms wayfinding into a vibrant expression of Bognor Regis itself; creating a warmer, more welcoming and more distinctive experience of the town.
Wayfinding strategy, placemaking, interpretation & public art: Richard Wolfströme
Project partners: Bognor Regis Regeneration Board, Business Improvement District, local councils, the University & local businesses
Fabrication & installation: Standard 8
Project partners: Bognor Regis Regeneration Board, Business Improvement District, local councils, the University & local businesses
Fabrication & installation: Standard 8
