Overarching guidelines

Site planning

Decision framework

Council have internal guidelines that should be referred to for clarification of decisions made to form the sign templates found in this package:

• Sunshine Coast Council Brand Guidelines
• Signage must comply with AS 1428.4.2:2018 Design for access and mobility Part 2.4 Wayfinding signs.

There are a range of Australian Standards/best practice guidelines, relating to this category. Key documents are referenced throughout and in the LIM Signage - Overarching guidelines - Standards.

Site decisions

Users

Site conditions

Consider the physical characteristics of a site and requirements of the activities to be conducted:

• prevailing winds
• orientation to minimise sun impact
• location of utilities
• well drained site
• level surface
• flood immunity requirements. 

Co-location of facilities

• Facilities, including parking and pathways, are often already established and need to be considered in the overall park design. 
• Include connecting pathways for universal access and provide shade where possible.

Safety

• Safety clearances must be met.
• Adopt principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Guidelines for Queensland. Locate signage to allow users to feel safe, and to provide an opportunity for casual surveillance.

Potential site conflicts

Locate signage away from:  

• High use bikeways, busy roads and steep slopes, to avoid accidents. 
• Avoid interfering with other open space users. Signage installed too close to the edge of pathways will interrupt the free flow of pedestrian/cyclist traffic.
• Hazards such as waterways, fire and flood prone areas, sewers and stormwater drains, underground services, power poles.

Minimal sign use across the region

The Sunshine Coast is known for its natural beauty, and the intent of both sign suites is to allow the natural environment and landscape elements define each locality, rather than rely on the signs to enhance it.  It is important that the signs, remain secondary to the natural and built environment that is the Sunshine Coast. 

Design criteria

The following design criteria for an approved sign must ensure: 

• The artwork design must not be changed without prior approval. See Council (Communication) for further details. 
• The design and content must stay true to the intended use.
• Only approved Council corporate colours are used.
• The design does not create a visual conflict with the main focus and content of the sign. 
• All relevant Australian Standards are met when designing an additional element, such as, considering finger entrapments and edge treatments.
• A visual connection to the place or site. This may be achieved by one or more of the following: 
  • using key local palettes that reflect the unique character of the place, such as influences from existing natural features, texture, plant palettes, history of the place and or the existing built form. 

Network planning

Future technologies

New technologies for interacting and communicating with audiences to aid in the navigation of our environments are developed rapidly and will be subject  to change as technologies advance. 

The Council LIM Signage suite has taken into account the Australian Standard including AS 1428.4.2:2018 Design for access and mobility Part 4.2 Wayfinding, research, and accredited access consultant advice.

Quick Response (QR) code

The LIM Signage suite does not incorporate QR codes, however if approval is given by Council for a particular scenario, the code should be displayed in accordance with Council (Communication) guidance. 

• A QR code is a machine-readable bar code label that may be attached to a sign or other medium.
• The QR code holds related information, that is accessed via the internet. In this case it currently takes users to the Council website. 
• Typically a smart phone or tablet is used as a QR code scanner.
• A QR code may be used on signage and positioned in the logo area of the sign, following the relevant specifications and size requirements. Council (Communication) to advise. 
• QR codes must conform Council guidelines. Council (Communication) to advise.