Multilingual Brisbane City Wayfinding
As Brisbane strengthens its position within the Asia Pacific economy, multilingual communication has become a vital part of the city’s visitor experience, serving both short-stay tourists and long-term international students. Developed in line with Brisbane’s Economic Development Plan, this multi-award winning system delivers a visible network of pedestrian navigation tools spanning 1,400 km² of footpaths, reinforcing the city’s identity as a walkable destination.
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ExpertiseWayfinding
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SectorCities, Active Travel
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ClientBrisbane City Council
Typography and layout are guided by a clear linguistic hierarchy. English remains the dominant language, while Korean, Japanese, Traditional Chinese and Arabic are featured across maps and wayfinding messaging to reflect the needs of key visitor groups.
The ‘walking man’ identifier was reimagined as a cut-through form that comes to life, elegantly and dynamically framing its surroundings. Developed through a gestalt design approach, the walking man is conceived as an integral part of the sign itself, rather than an element applied to it.
Image credits: Dotdash, Reuben Ross