Tivoli Preserve – Brand & Wayfinding System
A unified identity and signage masterplan for one of New York’s largest urban nature preserves.
I developed a comprehensive visual identity and wayfinding system for Tivoli Preserve — aligning a community-led organization, a 72-acre nature preserve, and a working urban farm under one clear, usable brand.
Snapshot.
CLIENT
City of Albany, NY & Friends of Tivoli Preserve & Farm
ROLE
Brand & Environmental Design Lead
SCOPE
Logo system, style guide, monumental sign, entry signage, trail markers, map, kiosks
FOCUS
Conceptual masterplan
Context & Challenge
Tivoli Preserve is a 72-acre urban nature preserve in Albany’s Arbor Hill / West Hill area, with wetlands, upland forest, Tivoli Lake, Patroon Creek, and a working farm operation. It’s one of the largest urban preserves in the state — but most residents had little sense of where it begins, how to enter, or what it offers.
There was no cohesive identity, no clear arrival moment, and no intuitive wayfinding system connecting community members to the landscape or programming.
Objective:
Create a brand and wayfinding system that:
Makes Tivoli easy to find and navigate
Reflects its ecology, farm culture, and neighborhood identity
Supports untrained staff and volunteers with clear, repeatable tools
Is durable, low-maintenance, and realistic for public-sector implementation
I designed a full-scale identity and wayfinding system that transforms Tivoli from open land into a legible, navigable, and recognized place using The Friends of Tivoli’s existing brand. The Friends of Tivoli are a dedicated community group focused on preserving and enhancing Tivoli Lake Preserve.
What I Built:
Designing How People Move, See, and Feel
Trial Signage
ADA icons and terrain indicators on each marker help visitors quickly identify which trails are accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and limited-mobility users.
Map
A weather-resistant trail map guides visitors through Tivoli’s landscape, marking named trails, distances, ADA access, and key landmarks. Distinct silhouettes — including the Brother Yousef icon — align with on-site markers for seamless, intuitive wayfinding.
Logo Entry Sign
Crafted from rustic metal or reclaimed wood, the entry sign features the Tivoli logo cut from a single, continuous piece — creating a bold yet natural marker of arrival that blends identity, durability, and stewardship.
Logo Entry Sign
A single-piece cut-out of the Tivoli logo in rustic metal or reclaimed wood creates a bold yet natural marker of arrival, using light and shadow to blend identity, durability, and place.
Monumental Sign
A large-scale cut-out of the “Tivoli” logo anchors the entrance, with each letter illustrating life inside the preserve — sheep, hikers, wetlands, and community. Positioned along the sidewalk and fabricated in corten steel or reclaimed wood, the sign functions as a landmark, photo moment, and illuminated gateway into Tivoli’s landscape.
Kiosks
The kiosks at Tivoli Preserve and Farm are dynamic hubs of information, designed to connect visitors with the rich programming and opportunities the preserve offers.
Placed at entrances and trailheads, they connect visitors to events, education, and sign-ups via integrated QR codes.
This project demonstrates a complete environmental identity system — from visual language and materials to wayfinding and on-site signage — designed for real-world conditions like municipal budgets, weather, maintenance, and non-design staff, while prioritizing access, orientation, and community ownership.
Someone created the preserve. I created the system that helps people see, enter, and understand it.