MVE & Partners Creative Lab Providing Pro Bono Signage Services for New Boy Scout Outdoor Education Center

The MVE Graphic Design Studio, also known as the Creative Lab, announces pro-bono design services in excess of 100 hours to develop an extensive signage system for the new Boy Scouts Outdoor Education Center located near the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve. The expansive 210-acre Outdoor Education Center is the first of its kind in Orange County and will provide opportunities for the Boy Scouts and thousands of Southern California youth organization members to learn about nature by experiencing it first hand.

"It has been exciting to work with MVE's Graphics Team to create signage for the Outdoor Education Center," states Christine Kirk, Director of the Outdoor Education Center. "We have worked together to ensure that signs that will be placed along the trails are accurate and educational for folks who will be using the Center. I am looking forward to being able to use the trailside signs as a way to get kids to open their eyes and really look around them to see if they can see the plants and animals that the signs depict."

Utilizing unique design and fabrication methods, MVE's Graphic Design Team is creating a cohesive signage program and that will provide concise direction for this outdoor education experience. The new signage system offers over 90 different sign types including main entry identification, assorted building and location identification signs, directional signage, trail markers, informational signage and commemorative monument signage for donors who made the center's creation possible.

Erik Chrestensen, Director of Graphic Design and the "Creative Lab," states:

"This Outdoor Education Center gives us the opportunity to create a one of a kind signage solution within a rugged and natural outdoor environment. We are combining traditional methods of hand illustration and craftsmanship with both natural materials and contemporary fabrication methods to support an experience that the children will look back upon as "authentic."

"Upon project completion in November of 2008, this center will serve as an alternative to the nearby urban/metropolitan lifestyle where some children rarely have the opportunity to participate in these fantastic outdoor activities. I can't say enough about the Boy Scouts organization and the essential positive values that they are committed to passing onto the youth of tomorrow."

The signage for the center was especially important to the Boy Scouts not only because of the massive size of the project, but also due to the many elements required to create a truly cohesive experience. Multiple factors had to be taken into consideration while developing the signage system including visibility, durability and overall thematic design while working with a limited budget. One prevailing need that the Boy Scouts expressed was to make sure the experience was educational about not only about the surrounding nature but also the significance of the land that the center is being built on. The Irvine Ranch area is rich with historic accounts of Native Americans, Spanish Explorers, missionaries and cattle ranchers, which the Boy Scouts have determined is important for visiting youth to be conscience and aware of. Signs discuss the rich history of the land as well as the overlooked native plants and animal species which offer information that at are both fun and educational.

Traditional materials are being combined with new technology to create an authentic atmosphere that complements the camp's rural nature. The Creative Lab has been paying special attention in remaining true to the surrounding environment and offering an authentic experience with natural materials. The team used raw, pure and untreated materials such as naturally aged wood and recycled materials to match the surrounding environment. The signs also utilize the natural surrounding landscape that is indigenous of Southern California so that they do not overpower the unique terrain.

About the MVE Creative Lab

MVE & Partners Creative Lab Studio was formed to provide graphic design and creative services support for an extensive range of clients. In addition to in-house assistance for MVE's design and marketing staff, this group offers custom graphic design solutions while continuously reflecting upon our client's ultimate goals. The Creative Lab specializes in high-level concept design and production for a range of elements including: Environmental Graphics, Sales and Marketing Center Experiences, Print, Packaging and Merchandise Design, Motion Graphics and Website Design, Custom Illustrations and Artwork, Nomenclature and Brand Strategy and Architectural Color Systems. MVE's Graphic Design Team has also worked with MVE Interior Design Team and the Boy Scouts Orange County Council in redesigning the new Boy Scouts headquarters in Santa Ana, California.

About The Outdoor Education Center

The Outdoor Education Center will host three unique, themed camps: Astronomy Camp, Ranch Camp and Mining Camp with lessons for youth focusing on the environments above, on and below the earth's surface. The Center will also include a nature center, challenging rope course, training center, chapel, conference center, dining hall, and several bunkhouses. The Center will also have an aquatics center with a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool. The Center will provide schools and youth organizations a local and more affordable venue for both overnight outdoor education and day trips.

For more information on the project visit: www.outdooreducationcenter.org. Organizations and individuals interested in contributing funds are encouraged to contact Skip Seagraves at skip@ocbsa.org or (714) 645-4990.