Elpida home NGO.
Though you may travel, here in Elpida, lies a home.
Refugees travel through countries, they see, hear, experience and live mostly on the road. The very first touchpoint with any country they encounter, is the the road sign system. This system is a universal visual language. Simplified yet knows no barriers in communicating directions, intentions, alerts and announcements. Acts like a primal alphabet – an archetype of a language to convey meanings and to guide through one’s journeys.
Based on the Greek interstate and rural areas road signs, the logo utilises the recognisable font and the familiar shape of the sign to carry the message: “Though you may travel, here lies a home”. Elpida Home NGO was the facilitator and managing authority of the largest refugee hotspot camp in northern Greece during 2015 – 2017 refugee crisis, funded by Giustra Foundation (formerly known as Radcliffe Foundation of Canada).
The archetypal visual language of signs, a common alphabet beyond all language barriers.
A gridded modular system of icons, symbols and objects of everyday living in our home, form the illustrations of Elpida Home NGO. As a flexible, adaptable and expandable system, each grid created carries the concept across all media.
Describing a camp with home-like environment for families. No bunkbeds and no public restrooms or baths. ‘Apartments’ for all families with privacy, kitchens, washing machines, communal shops, public movie theatre, infirmaries and other facilities with privacy made the camp looked like home away from theirs.
Modular sign system-alphabet is meaningful, recognisable, bold and easy to follow.
The identity keeps up with the same notion of this archetypical visual language of signs. All members of Elpida Home NGO, are identified not only by their title, but an explanatory illustration as well. Applied to their card, t-shirt and door sign; making identification, wayfinding and recognition easier for those not speaking English.
Various combination of the modular grid system, allows to create unique and meaningful designs. Bold, recognisable in colour coded t-shirts, Elpida Home NGO staff, volunteers and communal members (such as doctors, paramedics etc.) are easy to distinguish along the community.
