PlanetWord-Graphics_WebPi.jpg
Credit: Joseph Romeo; Sculpture: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Planet Word

BBB’s signage blends with the exhibit graphics at Planet Word, DC's inaugural language-arts museum, created within the revitalized historic Franklin School.

Planet Word brings language to life through revolutionary technology, interactive exhibits, and voice activation. BBB oversaw the preservation and rehabilitation of the Renaissance Revival building.

BBB’s graphics and wayfinding program included branded exterior identification and interior wayfinding signage that takes typographic and color cues from the exhibits and applies these to building directories, directional sign panels, and gallery section markers. BBB also designed interpretive wall graphics celebrating the architecture of the building and revealing the history of former occupants, which include Alexander Graham Bell, who made the first wireless transmission of the human voice in the building.

In the main lobby, BBB realized the owner’s vision for language immersion from the visitor’s first step. Inlaid in the terrazzo floor is a constellation of letterforms that evokes the evolution of symbols and pictographs through to characters and glyphs of modern-day language. Donor recognition is addressed in the galleries, elegantly but discretely, including donor names displayed in a sculptural wall evoking tiled word games and letterpress printing.

 

Client

Franklin School Development, LLC

Location

Washington, DC

People

LEED AP
Senior Associate, Environmental Graphic Designer