To see a video of the new signs and what some students think about them, click here.Thirteen purple and gold “mock-up” signs were scattered throughout campus last week, stirring up conversation among University students. The test signs — for buildings, roads and parking lots — are part of the final planning phase for the University’s Wayfinding Project, an initiative to redesign the directional and informational signs on campus. Some students love the signs’ vibrant purple color and simple design, while others despise it. “They look like Disney World,” said Jason Marchese, recent biology graduate. Made from temporary material like plywood and PVC pipe, the mock-up signs on display now are there for the University community to evaluate the signs’ color, font, readability and design, said Jason Soileau, assistant director of Facility Development. Soileau, who has headed the project since its inception last spring, said the real signs will begin to be installed on campus in phases as funding becomes available. He said he hopes the multi-million dollar plan will be approved by Chancellor Michael Martin in October. Sarah Beth Maxwell, geology senior, said the new signs are an improvement compared to the ones used on campus now.”[The design] captures your eye,” she said. “Having the school colors appeals to the students.” Maxwell said she likes the mock-up sign for Himes Hall, located in the Quad. She said its position — near a sitting area just outside Himes — makes the building easier to find. The names of buildings in the Quad are written in small font above doors, making it hard to identify buildings, she said. Other students like the color of the signs but don’t care for their design. “I don’t think they blend in very well,” said Mariana Marmol, graphic design senior. “They don’t fit the ambiance of the school.” Students will get to formally voice their opinion about the signs in a survey that will be sent to their University e-mail accounts this week, said Aaron Looney, an editor for LSU Public Affairs. The Wayfinding Project’s faculty and community committee will review the results of the survey before Soileau presents the plan to the Chancellor. Soileau said the University has needed new signage for years, referring to its current signs as “visual clutter.” The Wayfinding Project will instill a unifying design to all campus signage and help people navigate campus better, Soileau said. Sasaki and Associates, an architectural planning firm in Boston, is designing the signs for the University. The Baton Rouge Downtown Development District received the 2008 Outstanding Achievement Award in Transportation from the International Downtown Association in September for its colorful, Creole-inspired signage project. Sasaki and Associates was one of the consultants for the project. The signs downtown were built to reflect Louisiana culture as well as help people find their way around, an outcome Soileau hopes the University’s signs will achieve. Mock-up signs around campus include a directional sign at the intersection of Highland and Dalrymple Roads, several building identification signs and an informational kiosk near Memorial Tower.————Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]