NUI Galway: Campus Hoardings

NUI Galway are currently in the middle of a €400 million building programme. Four new state-of-the-art buildings are planned or in progress: an Arts, Humanities and Social Science research building, a Translational Research and Clinical Research Facility, a Biosciences research building and a €40 million Engineering building which will be the countries largest School of Engineering.

The university commissioned us to produce a 310-meter long hoarding, which wraps around the construction area for the Arts, Humanities and Social Science research building at the heart of the campus. The size of this site presented the opportunity to target two separate audiences with this promotional hoarding. We created a dynamic hoarding, alongside a pedestrian route, which engages with and represents student life. The opposite side of the hoarding focusses on all of the forthcoming innovative research buildings where the boundaries of learning and practice will be challenged and explored.

Research Hoarding

This side of the hoarding creates a strong impact, being visible from the main road at a campus entrance. Our challenge was to create a flexible design, which allowed the use of large photography and graphic typography, and which would be produced through a series of panels within a complex environment.

NUI Galway Research Hoarding close up

We developed a linear graphic backdrop which allowed us to incorporate large typographic key dates, college icons, and strong use of the brand mark. Each design element was chosen to reflect the story of the significant innovations that NUI Galway are making in their fields of research. A range of vibrant colours combinations, chosen from NUI Galway’s colour palette, bring energy and life to the hoarding.

NUI Galway Research Hoarding Wide View
Student Hoarding

NUI Galway Student Hoarding Wide View

This side of the hoarding is located on a student walkway leading into the heart of the campus. It had the potential to be far more expressive and aspirational than the more corporate side. Our key design challenge was to create a student-centric treatment that allowed viewers by to experience multiple slices of university life.

NUI Galway Student Hoarding Type Detail

Distinctive silhouette illustrations of student figures appear along the hoarding’s length. Partaking in a wide variety of activities, everything from studying, playing soccer and hurling to walking through the campus, all creating a sense of forward movement. These figures were set against a kaleidoscope of coloured backgrounds, conveying a sense of energy, freshness and vibrancy.

NUI Galway Student Hoarding Type Detail

We used powerful, oversized typography to lay inspirational words and sentences over the various activities. Phrases such as ‘Expanding Horizons’ and ‘Building Futures’ are interspersed with specific words like Knowledge, Success, Discovery and Inspiration. All appearing in both English and Irish. The overall effect of this side of the hoarding is to create a positive statement about the university in a time of economic doom and gloom. We hope you’ll agree that it looks amazing!

NUI Galway Student Hoarding Ramp View

Both of these hoardings engage and inform students, potential students, staff and the public. They have transformed the centre of the campus, breathing life and energy into the area.