Every part of the Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners in Mansfield ISD is designed to maximize the creative potential for students ages 3-4 years old, including the environmental graphics.
The district wanted the building to be a place for students to explore new destinations, time periods, and ideas without having to leave the classroom. The notion of a “super kid” emerged from these conversations and became a pillar of the design. A “super kid” can do anything, go anywhere, experience anything—there’s nothing they can’t do! Graphics of these “super kids” are thoughtfully displayed throughout the building and are used to emphasize the theme of each space.
The academy consists of four learning pods, each with four classroom experiences and a common space for dining and instruction. The pods are themed by the type of learning experiences found within, including: Exploration, Interaction, Investigation and Navigation. Graphics frame the entrance to each pod, creating a “portal” into the space. A key element of environmental graphics in this school is the role they play in wayfinding. Branding throughout the building helps young students seamlessly navigate and identify where they are in a space. Each pod is a different color that matches the wayfinding feeder lines that start at the reception desk and split inside the campus as it diverges into two wings.
Creating an immersive experience and connecting concepts and tools was critical. Our team worked with Mansfield ISD to design visual cues that match the graphics and theme of each experience. For example, each experience has a vest or costume piece students wear when they are in that room, these are customized with a branded patch to match that area of the building. The same concept applies to how storage boxes containing educational tools are labeled.
