Founded in 1859 by Queen Victoria, Wellington College in Crowthorne has grown into one of the UK’s most respected private schools. More than 160 years later, it continues to excel while extending its reach through 10 international campuses worldwide. In 2014, Wellington College International Shanghai became the group’s first school in China. Despite a highly competitive landscape, it has maintained a leading position ever since.
In 2024, as the school celebrated its tenth anniversary and reached full capacity, Wellington College International Shanghai partnered with JWDK to deliver a major upgrade to its wayfinding system. The goal was to enhance the arrival experience for visitors, parents, students and staff, while ensuring a seamless, branded journey across the expansive campus.
A new way forward
While long-standing members of the community navigated the site with ease, new starters and occasional visitors often relied on security staff for directions. During busy weekends, when external visitors also accessed the sports facilities, this dependency created pressure on personnel. A more intuitive and efficient wayfinding system was needed.
JWDK’s strategy considered every aspect of movement on campus. The plan accounted for the balance between vehicles and pedestrians, as well as safe pupil circulation during peak times and around the sports fields.
A note from the past
To reflect Wellington’s heritage, the new system drew on traditional Victorian architectural cues such as wrought iron detailing and formal symmetry.
The golden yellow of the College brand, combined with a consistent grid, clear icons, directional arrows and building identifiers, created a distinctive and cohesive visual language across the site. While honouring heritage, the system retains a modern simplicity that complements the diversity of the campus architecture, from historic references to the state-of-the-art sports dome.
Positive impact
Launched at the start of the 2024 academic year, the new signage was met with enthusiastic feedback from students, staff, parents and visitors. The system has been praised for its clarity and ease of use, while reducing the number of navigation-related enquiries to administrative staff.
