Jerome Cloud and Virginia Gehshan, co-principals of Philadelphia-based Cloud Gehshan Assoc., an environmental-graphic-design (EGD) firm, have been by the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD) as 2010 SEGD Fellows. According to the SEGD, the Fellowship is bestowed to honorees for “contributions to the direction and advancement of [EGD].” Nominees are presented by the organization’s members, and voted upon by its board. Cloud cited the firm’s following contributions:
• Design (Cloud said, “I think we’ve led in the area of placebranding – the integration of identity, storytelling and signage.”);
• Research (“We’ve introduced an environmental psychologist to many projects to [investigate] user-based wayfinding and cognition…and who stays current on related research.”)
• Innovation (“We developed one of the first emergency-management systems for use along remote rivers and trails.”)
• Collaboration (“I think we’ve encouraged material and finish advancements. We form close working relationships with fabricators, artisans and craftsmen. It’s integral to the realization of a clients’ project.”)
• Documentation (“With our 2008 SEGD Design Award for the Fairmount Park sign and interpretive guidelines, the jury cited ‘documentation envy,’ and said SEGD’s members should strive for this level of professionalism.”)
• Professionalism (“Virginia has authored numerous documents for SEGD and developed programs for SEGD’s partners and principals.”)
He continued, “We think good design, EGD or otherwise, grows from social consciousness and is supported by thoughtful research, artistic invention, and creative problem solving while engaging people and satisfying practical needs. The tools change and evolve, but the substance doesn’t. Form is ephemeral, but substance endures. However, technological changes are exciting, and they do impact how we work and provide options for delivering client messages.”