Walking into Evergreen High School in Seattle’s White Center neighborhood, one immediately sees the experiential graphic design woven throughout the building, supporting belonging, accessibility, and connection, and creating a place where students feel welcomed and supported.
The graphics throughout the 237,220 square foot school tell a story that begins with the land. Inspired by a glacial mass carving through the earth, the building feels revealed rather than constructed – its forms shaped by movement, its glassy edges catching light like diamonds uncovered beneath the surface. Graphic wall murals and signage extend this idea from exterior to interior, unifying architecture, interiors, and wayfinding into a single, continuous narrative.
At the entry, cool blues and teals reference the presence of ice and water. Moving deeper into the school, these tones transition into layered greens, echoing the surrounding evergreen forest. This shift mirrors a journey from carved ground to living landscape, reinforcing biophilic principles that support calm, focus, and wellbeing. Paired with the warmth of the mass timber structure, the graphics ground the building firmly in its place.
Material shifts guide movement throughout the school. Four distinct graphic materials subtly change by location, creating an intuitive wayfinding system while reinforcing the story of transformation and flow. Navigation is embedded into the environment, felt rather than instructed.
Inclusion is integral to the experience. Wayfinding appears in four primary District languages, ensuring equitable access to information. At the main entry, “welcome” is displayed in more than 20 languages, offering a powerful, immediate multi-cultural message: this is a place for everyone.
Outside, signage highlights sustainability features – bioswales, native plantings, site drainage strategies, and a community garden – extending learning into the landscape. These moments integrate learning beyond the classroom, reinforcing the connection between education and environment.
Rooted in collaboration and care, Evergreen High School demonstrates how experiential graphics can shape movement – and beyond that, how a place is felt. The result is a learning environment defined by clarity, connection, and a deep sense of belonging.
