From the beginning, the idea of transitions and growing up was a central concept in the design of Pexsisen Elementary & Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School, which share a site in the rapidly growing community of West Langford. Situated within a landscape marked by striking rock formations and a steep sloping hill, a design language that invokes jagged edges as an extension of the land’s character also began to emerge. Signage for the schools brought these two concepts together.
As a place of play, the elementary school’s signs take the form of rounded pebble-like shapes that reinforce the space as a nurturing and guided environment. As the children move to middle school, more individual freedom of expression develops, along with a stronger sense of self. This transition is translated into signs with rock-like formations, with more definition and sharper edges.