Columbia Land Trust

Klickitat River Interpretive Signs

Columbia Land Trust works to protect and restore land in the Pacific Northwest.

Ocelot was asked to design a series of large interpretive signs along a 7-mile stretch of the Klickitat River floodplain area. Options were provided for design services within the overall budget. Quotes were sourced from multiple vendors for physical production of the signs, to ensure the project would stay within budget.  After design was complete, Ocelot was in charge of coordinating the printing, proofing, and fabrication process, as well as shipping the signs and hardware to the site from an out of state vendor.

Project goals

Ocelot was given a large amount of information about the trail and Columbia Land Trust’s restoration project. I worked with the client to identify their goals and how to achieve them with the sign design and placement. Together, we decided on 4 signs, covering history of the area, reasons for restoration, explanation of riparian areas impacted by restoration, and comparison of the area before and after restoration.

Design considerations included the intended audience (hikers and bikers of various ages), use of the Columbia Land Trust brand guidelines for consistency, viewing distance, physical durability of the signs in extreme weather conditions over many years, and budget for fabrication and installation. 

Design considerations

ENVIRONMENT

The signs are most likely to be viewed from a distance by hikers eager to continue on the trail. The goal was to quickly inform visitors giving a short glance, while also presenting more of the story to those wanting a deeper understanding.

BRANDING

The use of brand fonts and color palette helped identify these signs (and the restoration project overall) as the work of the Columbia Land Trust. Bold headlines posed as questions, a subtle topographic textured background and repeated use of a curved background header tied the signs together as a series. 

STAKEHOLDERS

The Klickitat river offers important opportunities in forestry, ranching, and recreation, and is rich in history and culture of the Klickitat people. Tribal leaders were consulted in the creation of the content, providing important context for the long history of the area.

The Signs

The largest sign (48" x 36") is posted at both ends of the trail. It introduces the area and shows a timeline of events leading up to the new restoration. 

This sign points out multiple features along the river, and describes how the removal of the road allowed habitats in these areas to flourish.

This sign answers the question of why the project was necessary. Large photos with graphic callouts, highlighted statistics ("8 miles of road removed") and thoughtfully edited content quickly informs visitors giving a short glance, while also presenting more of the story to those wanting a deeper understanding.

This sign compares the previous landscape to the current, and informs visitors with a map of the entire restoration area. It also warns that there is no road or trail beyond this point, and hazards may emerge.

Conclusion: The project was successfully completed on time and at budget. The client was pleased and has remarked on how well the signs were received in the community. Multiple clients have contacted me after seeing the signs, requesting similar design work.

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Project Sample #3

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Good design makes
a difference.

  • You have an important story to tell.

    Ocelot is your creative partner, helping you make meaningful connections with your audience. Working together, we leverage the power of design to create positive change.

    Design is an incredibly powerful tool that can make all the difference in how you are perceived. Good design gets noticed. It motivates people to get involved, to learn more, to donate, to believe in a cause. I care about the people and organizations I work with, and seeing them succeed is the best part of my job.

  • Adaptive Sports Northwest
    Adventist Health Portland
    Bradley Angle
    Central Oregon LandWatch
    Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts
    Columbia Land Trust
    Greenbelt Land Trust
    Harper’s Playground
    Hillsboro Medical Center
    Kinship House
    National Parks Conservation Association
    Oregon Anesthesiology Group
    OHSU
    Oregon Parks and Recreation
    Oregon Zoo Foundation
    Raphael House
    WorldOregon

  • Give me a call or email using the info below.

    503.880.6595

    cassandra@ocelotcreative.com