Assorted Images given hospital signage job

Assorted Images has been appointed to design the signage system for the new 1500-room Birmingham children’s hospital.

The consultancy beat Information Design Unit in a head-to-head after a five-way credentials pitch.

Now that hospitals have independent status as trusts there is no need to follow the Department of Health’s official signage guidelines, bringing in the potential to make signage more innovative and less rigid.

Assorted Images will work with the hospital’s existing logo. “We hope to produce a scheme that is fresh and exciting, effective and not condescending to kids,” says Assorted Images director Kasper de Graaf.

The Victorian building, which was formerly the old Birmingham General Hospital, is being refurbished by architect Powell Moya and is scheduled to reopen in spring 1998.