Navy Federal Credit Union

San Diego - Workplace

ZGF Architects

Brief: As part of an interior refresh, NFCU’s San Diego building required updated experiential graphics and wayfinding to align with the new finishes. The existing stair graphics felt oversized and visually heavy, prompting a brighter, more vibrant system inspired by San Diego, while remaining intuitive and easily recognizable for future users.

Scope: EGD - 4 Stairwells
Role: Concept, Designer, Art Direction
Collaborators: Wesley Ching, Jenny Lee and Suejin Park
Status: In Progress

Concept 1

Stair 1 - Coastline

Four distinct stair locations, each drawing inspiration from the varied landscapes of San Diego. Graphics are intentionally placed at the mid-landing to suit the smaller scale of the space.

Stair 2 - Urban Landscape

Mid-landing graphics were extended into framed Level 2 elements with integrated dimensional numbers and wayfinding. Stair 2 Graphic was developed in collaboration with Wes Ching. Art Direction by Nat Lowe.

The design pivot was later required in response to leadership feedback.

Stair 3 - Desert

After shifting to a more photo-based direction, a collage-like approach was developed that emphasizes color and form, with minimal sketch-like linework layered on top to create a fresh, contemporary feel.