Detroit River Front Conservancy, Detroit MI See our Wayfinding Case Study for this project

The Detroit RiverWalk makes the Detroit River accessible for visitors and residents for the first time in the city's history. The overall scope of the project includes five miles of paths and plazas stretching from Belle Isle to the Ambassador Bridge. Nicolson Associates responsibilities included wayfinding consultation, sign designs, donor recognition and interpretive exhibits.

One of the main challenges was meeting the needs of a variety of community groups. We met with each group and made them part of the design and approval process.

Click here to see the River Walk Wayfinding Case Study.

Directional Sign

We used the streets that intersect the river walk as destination points which are identified at the top of each directional sign.

Interpretive Glass Wall

The wall is a sculpted glass map of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Interpretive graphics describe the history and economic value of waterway from Chicago to the Atlantic Ocean.