Elevating the Banking Experience: The Impact and Essence of Environmental Graphics

By Leanne Harrington – Marketing & Design Specialist at NES Group

Branches today are no longer just a place to conduct transactions. As a physical extension of your brand, they have become essential in shaping the image and reputation of financial institutions. To succeed and thrive, banks and credit unions must continually update, maintain, and evolve their branch network – which may include a mix of antiquated, modern, or newly acquired facilities.

The use of environmental graphics has become a powerful tool for many industries due to their ability to create a cohesive and immersive experience for customers or members and employees. Its purpose is to inform, build interest, and engage a person within their physical environment. For financial institutions, environmental graphics play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall banking journey while representing who they are and what they stand for. 

 
What is Environmental Graphic Design?

Environmental Graphic Design is a practice that blends graphic design, architecture, interior design, lighting, art, and branding elements to create a physical space that people can connect to. Designers will use a wide array of graphic elements, including typography, images, color, and texture. It’s more than just putting murals on a wall – the intent is to inspire how people navigate, interact, and ultimately feel within their environment.

How does it benefit branches?

Your branch network should reflect your values and strengthen the communities you serve. Environmental graphics will get your brand message in front of customers or members with an added layer of visual interest, allowing them to feel connected and a sense of belonging. 

Environmental graphics also provide entertainment. People typically want to see different things every day – something that helps them escape daily life, even for a minute. Bringing entertainment to the branch experience guarantees a little fun and excitement while customers or members handle their finances. People are also more likely to share their experiences in places with unique design features on social media – and what’s better than free advertising?

Adding graphics to your space also provides the perfect opportunity to refresh a branch quickly on a small budget. Updating your space with murals or applying a custom-designed surround to your ATM is much more affordable than updating finishes, furniture, and reconfiguring floor plans. 

Examples of Environmental Graphics

Branded Environments
Branded environments help set the tone and create a sense of place for employees and customers or members. Communicate your identity using your logo in smart places, incorporating customized signage and wall murals. Graphics depicting the brand, such as a corporate timeline or core values, will bring your name to life.

Wall Graphics

The walls in your space are blank pages that can be strategically filled to improve customer experience. Wall graphics can range from murals, logo displays, and artwork and are often large-scale. They can be used for decorative purposes, to tell a story, or to convey a brand’s message. With wall graphics, it’s crucial to find a balance between choosing elements that will create a lasting impression for visitors while not being too hard on the eyes of everyday employees.

Wayfinding Systems

Wayfinding graphics include a combination of signage, floor markings, and banners that help guide customers or members through your branches and operations buildings. Your brand can easily be incorporated while displaying safety notices or other important information.

Glass Banding

In today’s branches and operations spaces, glass partitions are a fantastic way to create a bright and open atmosphere. Combining form and function, custom-designed glass and window graphics can brand your space, providing a unique look throughout the space while helping maintain the proper amount of privacy needed.

Custom-designed Surrounds

With self-service channels making up the majority of banking interactions, adding a custom-designed surround to ATMs or ITMs is a sure way to make the experience memorable. Adding photographs of local landmarks or a vibrant graphic inspired by your brand will catch your customers’ or members' attention. This opportunity is also a powerful solution for self-service channels beyond the vestibule and outside the branch. Well-designed and branded ATMs and ITMs that stand alone are guaranteed to be more recognizable.

Delivering an Engaging Experience

Making the branch a true expression of your brand is integral to a well-planned marketing strategy. A branded journey can address the needs and desires of today’s customers and members in entirely new ways, supporting the actual value of your branch. 

You are more than just a safe place for your customers’ and members' money. You’re there to guide them to achieve their financial goals – a level of service that can’t be conducted online.