Why More Banks and Credit Unions Are Using Environmental Graphics in Branches
Environmental graphic design is a retail trend that has gained a lot more momentum in the banking industry in recent years. There are a growing number of banks and credit unions that have incorporated this approach into branches across the country. Designers say it’s a way to create an environment that feels warm, welcoming, and even delightful for customers and employees.
What can make a bank branch feel creative and innovative in the digital age?
Kevin Brouillette would argue it comes down to environmental graphics, which he considers to be the future of branch design.
“The intent of environmental graphic design is to inform, captivate and delight a person within a space,” says Brouillette, the senior environmental graphic designer at NewGround, a branch design firm in St. Louis, Miss.
The term was first coined decades ago — as early as the 70s — he says. But the use of this approach in branch design has become a particularly prominent trend in recent years.
Brouillette says environmental graphics create a more welcoming environment, in contrast to the more formal feel older branches often have. This approach also allows banks and credit unions to incorporate their branding in a thoughtful and engaging way.
EGD…the use of graphic elements such as typography, color, imagery, and textures to curate and enhance the experience people have within a space,
Julie Maggos, senior director of experiential design at IA Interior Architects in Chicago, says the use of environmental graphics is critical in modern retail design. Her clients often reach out to her with sophisticated ideas from brands such as Google or Target as they are working to develop their own concepts.
“It’s about the entire experience: the touch, the feel, the smell, the sound, everything in the environment,” Maggos says. “As part of the experience, our clients are understanding the value of including their brand and enhancing their culture within their work environment.”