RDA/NY 25 YEARS

Architectural Signage & Wayfinding Exhibition Design Brand Identity

RDA /NY is a New York-based design studio founded by Margot Perman & Jürgen Riehle.

We design brand identities, wayfinding & signage programs, campaigns, videos, exhibitions, publications & retail environments.

We give ideas visual form & physical expression to make our clients instantly memorable in real space, print and motion.

This publication is a selection of our notable work of 25 years, ranging from 1999 - 2024.

MUSEUM BRANDING, SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING: THE GUGGENHEIM, NY, BILBAO, VENICE & BERLIN

RDA created a visual identity for the Guggenheim’s growing family of museums. We developed a new wayfinding/signage system in NY, integrating the historic Wright building with Gwathmey Siegel’s addition.

We created custom wayfinding signage using changing exhibition images to guide visitors.

To address the question, “where does each floor begin and end?”, we added consistent numbering between the building’s spiral and its newer annex,

Rotunda Elevator

Tower 7

Ramp 6 Tower 5

LeFrak Sculpture Terrace

Ramp 5

Tower 4

Ramp 4

Ramp 3 Tower 3 Tower 2

Ramp 2

Ground Level Museum Store

Museum Offices

Theater Entrance

Main Entrance

Lower Level

Aye Simon Reading Room

High Gallery

Ramp 1 Museum Café

Rotunda

Peter B. Lewis Theater

Entrance Cafe & Museum (wheelchair lift)

EXHIBITION DESIGN: GUGGENHEIM, VILNIUS

RDA designed an exhibition of architectural proposals

by Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind, and Maksimiliano Fuksas for a proposed new museum in Vilnius, Lituania.

EXHIBITION/COMMUNICATION DESIGN: STUDIO VULKAN, ZURICH

Working from our Berlin office, we collaborated with Zurich’s Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur on their new venture, V-Lab. We conceived and designed a studio monograph, a graphic concept for Zurich’s Airport Park, and Vulkan’s exhibition for the Venice Biennale, 2015.

This page: Work in progress at V-Lab studio for their 2015 Venice Biennale exhibition.

Facing page: V-Lab Monograph.

MUSEUM BRANDING & SIGNAGE: LEEUM/SAMSUNG MUSEUM OF ART, SEOUL

The success of the Guggenheim signage led to a commission from the Samsung Foundation of Culture to develop the brand identity and signage for the Leeum, designed by Jean Nouvel, Mario Botta, and Rem Koolhaas.

EXHIBITION DESIGN: UN AGENCIES

RDA developed the new brand identity for the United Nations Population Fund, launched in over 100 countries.

We curated and designed exhibitions which opened at the UN Gallery in New York and travelled internationally.

During an 18-year collaboration with the UN, we created organizational identities, signage and campaigns, wrote and directed video PSA’s, and designed publications as well as branded supply/distribution packaging.

Working with Magnum photographers, we curated, designed & produced this exhibition covering the UN’s history supporting gender equity.

RETAIL BRANDING & GRAPHICS & SIGNAGE: PERMAN WINES, CHICAGO

We created the brand identity and interior graphics for two retail locations, along with large-scale murals, custom neon signage and branded packaging.

MUSEUM BRANDING & WAYFINDING SIGNAGE: K11/CTF MUSEUM , HONG KONG

Working closely with SO-IL Architects and Museoplan, we designed the Museum identity to reflect the facade’s vertical glass tubes, along with signage, exhibition campaigns, wayfinding and exhibition graphics.

Clockwise from left: The museum logo behind the building’s glass facade, prototype exhibition image, and the museum logo on wall signage.

NEW SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING SYSTEM: DCAS/NYC: 26 COURT BUILDINGS

Working with architect Ronnette Riley, we designed a new ADA-compliant signage & wayfinding system for the New York City court buildings. The project involved visits, interviews & field research.

We installed a prototype throughout the Criminal Court Building, then produced a comprehensive standards manual detailing fabrication/installation for 26 buildings in the 5 Boroughs.

RETAIL CONCEPT, BRANDING, SIGNAGE: LE MIDI WINE BAR, CHICAGO

The starting concept was a café as seen in a Nouvelle Vague film. Bold newsprint-inspired typography and rich materials translate a specific era and style into cinematic settings. We designed the entire retail environment, which was recently featured in the New York Times’ “36 Hours” and in Chicago Magazine’s Top 3 Bars and Restaurants.

TIMELINE

SELECTED PROJECTS

1999-2009

NEW YORK, BILBAO, BERLIN, VENICE

2001-2004

SEOUL

2001-2005

NEW YORK

2001-2019

NEW YORK, WORLDWIDE

2004-2009

NEW YORK

2009 - 2018

BERLIN

2012 - 2015

ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

RDA incorporates with the arrival of two major brand identity projects: Chicago’s Field Museum and the Guggenheim Museums, which also includes a new signage program.

We design the brand identity & signage program for the Leeum/Samsung Museum of Art, a new complex consisting of three buildings.

Working closely with the artist, we develop the brand identity, touring posters & exhibition in Tokyo for Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

RDA develops the new brand identity for UNFPA (UN Population Fund), used in over 100 countries.

We produce global standards, reports, books & multilingual campaigns. We curate, design & produce three international travelling exhibitions, opening at the UN gallery in NY. We begin a 5-year collaboration with choreographer Bill T. Jones developing a new brand identity, publications, campaigns & monograph. We write, design & produce the award-winning performance book for Chapel/Chapter and create campaigns for the company’s gala events.

We open an office in Berlin to serve a growing roster of international clients.

Design of identity, brand standards, print & digital campaigns for the ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) headquartered in Manila.

2014 - 2016

BONN, SEOUL

We create the brand identity of the UN’s Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest organization dedicated to climate action. The identity, used worldwide, has become synonymous with a sustainable future.

2015 - 2018

ZURICH

2016 - 2018

HONG KONG

2018 - 2021

From our Berlin office, we collaborate with Zurich’s Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur. We create the graphic design for Zurich’s Airport Park, design the firm’s monograph, and curate & design Vulkan’s installation at the 2015 Venice Biennale.

K11’s CTF Museum is planned as part of the Victoria Harbour Cultural District. RDA designs the Museum’s brand identity, building signage, exhibition campaigns and retail packaging.

NEW YORK

We add narrative video to our capabilities, and write and produce a film promoting the North Fork TV Festival. We write, direct and produce PSA videos for UNFPA and UNICEF .

2019-2021

NEW YORK

2021-2023

NEW YORK

2019-2024

NEW YORK/CHICAGO

Working with architect Ronnette Riley, we develop a comprehensive ADA-compliant signage and wayfinding system for all 26 NYC Court buildings throughout the five boroughs.

We develop the brand identity, standards and campaigns for Columbia University/Teachers College Center for Educational Equity.

We design retail brand concepts for Perman Wines, Le Midi, Taverna & Tartan Hospitality Group.

RDA/NY

Real Design Assoc. studio@rdany.com 212 777 7884