Signage provides clarity and orientation. Recognizable and carefully designed elements define the space, guide visitors to their destinations and give them the confidence that they are in the right place. But Grindelwald is not an airport - functionality alone is not enough. Signage should also create a sense of identity, convey the unmistakable atmosphere of the place and thus become part of the vacation experience. Customer guidance thus becomes a central component of the brand experience of an internationally oriented top destination. 

Channeling visitor flows 

As a popular tourist destination with the highest year-round bed occupancy rate in Switzerland, the holiday village of Grindelwald handles a large number of tourists - in every season, especially in the village center. The previous signage system was no longer able to meet the requirements and did not meet the expectations of international guests. 

In close collaboration with Burri Public Elements, evoq has developed a new, informative and identity-building signage system. It is based on Burri's proven modular system, which was used to develop steles, signposts and information boards for Grindelwald. The system is complemented by seating areas. 

Eleven steles guide tourists through the village each equipped with eye-catching signposts. These complement the traditional traffic signs and hiking trail markers and lead tourists to all the important tourist hotspots, such as mountain railways. 

A physical and digital solution 

Digital steles were deliberately excluded because screens consume a lot of power and would not be able to withstand the harsh conditions in the glacier village. Instead, the focus is on sophisticated graphics, supplemented by a digital twin. 

Each stele displays a detailed village map created by the evoq map team based on Swisstopo data. This map provides central access to the interactive Grindelwald experience map, which can be accessed via a QR code. The digital map is based on OpenStreetMap and combines all tourist offers in one platform, which is coordinated with the maps on the Grindelwald website. 

The mountains and the village 

Grindelwald is world-famous as a glacier village, characterized by an impressive mountain backdrop into which the traditional chalets blend harmoniously. This interplay between the mountain world and the village silhouette is reflected as a central design element in the Jungfrau Region's brand colors on the steles. Wooden elements with carved details refer to the craftsmanship tradition of the Bernese Oberland, which characterizes many chalets. 

Stories create identity 

The evoq signage system also aims to give visitors an understanding of Grindelwald's culture and identity. Each stele tells a “Grindelwald story” from the rich tradition of this tourist destination. Visitors learn about the first ascent of the Eiger North Face, the fascinating construction of the Jungfrau Railway and the special Grindelwald snow vehicle, the “Velogemel”, which was even used to transport mail in the valley in the past.