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DFS Mission Hills
Studio X created a bespoke dual-language signage and wayfinding system for the DFS-operated zones within the Mission Hills resort in Hainan.
Spread across three levels — each designed for a different retail offer and target demographic — the signage system was crafted to complement the interior design while ensuring clarity and functionality across the whole environment. Every sign was positioned to enhance both navigation and brand presence, making the journey seamless for visitors moving through the resort’s diverse zones.
Our scope included the full design of sign typologies, typography, iconography, and product design. We approached signage as both wayfinding and retail theatre, ensuring that travellers were guided with ease while also experiencing a sense of DFS’s luxury positioning.
The system was developed to communicate both prestige and functional clarity. Bold visual statements were combined with subtle wayfinding cues that assisted international travellers in navigating a busy, high-traffic environment. This dual purpose — creating impact and providing orientation — ensured that the signage delivered value for both brand and user.
The project also demanded a robust technical approach. Materials were selected for durability and performance, with consideration for lighting conditions, visibility, and the longevity required in a resort setting. Detailed prototyping and coordination with manufacturers allowed us to test finishes and fabrication methods, ensuring that the final installations matched both design intent and operational needs.
Beyond its immediate functionality, the DFS signage strategy set a benchmark for the brand’s future retail environments. The principles developed at Mission Hills have informed subsequent rollouts, providing DFS with a scalable model that balances luxury expression with customer accessibility. By framing signage as a core part of the brand journey, the project demonstrates how wayfinding can become an extension of identity and an active contributor to customer experience.
Client
DFS
Location
Hainan, China
Size
30,000 sqft
Completed
2022
Project Stages:
- Concept Design
- Schematic Design
- Detail Design
- Tender Documentation
The product design of the signage was sympathetic to the interior design scheme, while the signage needed to be highly visible and aid navigation we carefully selected materials and forms that would blend into the wider environment. The result is a wayfinding system that looks integrated as opposed to applied at a later date.
The wayfinding system was also designed to be sympathetic and share some commonality in font and iconography scale to that of the wider resort in order to guide customers smoothly from zone to zone.
Where required, we provide comprehensive drawing and documentation packages in order to clearly communicate the design to the contractor.
Fictional Site
Real Site
1
Creating the ultimate design blueprint for your brand's future.
Real Site
2
Concept Design is where we lay the creative foundations and test the design limits.
Real Site
3
Schematic Design is where we really start to bridge the gap between concept and reality.
Real Site
4
Detail Design Intent, Documentation & Coordination.
Real Site
5
Documentation Refinement, Coordination & Preparing The Contractors Tender.
Real Site
6
Managing The Tender To Help Our Clients Appoint The Best Main Contractor.
Real Site
7
Contractor Shop Drawing Review & Regular Site Attendance Throughout The Fit-out Process.
Real Site
Post Completion
8
We are experts in creating guidelines manual for stores, restaurants, and malls fit-outs.
