Waves of creativity:
Anchoring design with nautical flair at The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk
How intentionality can transform multifamily signage projects
By Lauren Stern
Photography by Megan Morales
Custom signage is often seen as something purely functional. It helps people find their way, identifies spaces, and shares important information. That part is essential, but signage can do so much more when it’s approached with intention.
Multifamily signage should never be treated as an afterthought. It should be approached as an extension of a property’s identity and a key part of the overall story a space is telling. Through materials, form, color, typography, and environmental graphics, multifamily signage can reinforce architecture, support branding, and create a more memorable experience for the people moving through a space.
The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a strong example of this approach. Inspired by its waterfront setting and nautical design language, the luxury multifamily project shows how signage can move beyond basic wayfinding and become part of the overall experience of a place.
From interior room identification signs to exterior wayfinding and a welcoming parking garage mural, every element was designed with intention to support a cohesive, place-driven story.
Client: Confidential • Designer: Studio 618 • Fabricator: Duncan-Parnell
Designing with a sense of place
One of the first steps in any signage project is understanding what makes an individual property unique.
Every multifamily building has a story. Sometimes it comes from the architecture itself. Other times it is shaped by the surrounding environment, local history, or the community it serves. Before design begins, it is important to understand those influences and look for ways to bring them into the signage system in a meaningful way.
For The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk, inspiration for the project came directly from its waterfront location along Wilmington’s Riverwalk. The marina, docks, and riverfront activity created a strong visual language that informed the design direction from the start.
Rather than leaning into overly literal nautical imagery, the goal for this project was to keep things refined and elevated. The signage needed to feel appropriate for a luxury multifamily community while still also acknowledging its waterfront context. That balance became the foundation for the property’s entire signage system.
Building a cohesive experience
One of the most important parts of custom signage is making sure everything feels connected.
The design process goes far beyond signage alone. Interior renderings, architectural details, furniture selections, finish palettes, lighting, and branding materials are all reviewed and considered before any concepts are developed. That level of immersion helps ensure the signage feels intentional and not added on.
For The Metropolitan, every decision was made with care around how the signage would live within the environment. The color palette was pulled from interior finishes, using soft neutrals and grays that complemented the overall design. Subtle nautical references, like a porthole-inspired unit sign, were introduced in a way that felt natural rather than thematic.
The end result is a signage system that feels like part of the architecture, not something placed on top of it. When multifamily signage is aligned with its surroundings, it creates a smoother and more natural experience for the people using the space every day.
Using materials to tell a story
Materials are one of the most powerful tools in experiential design. They communicate tone immediately, whether something feels refined, warm, durable, playful, or elevated. They also help reinforce brand identity in a subtle but consistent way.
For The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk, materials became a way to quietly reference the waterfront context without being overly obvious.
Layered acrylic was used to evoke the feel of ship portholes. Rope-inspired details were introduced in the unit signage to reference the marina nearby. Dimensional mounting elements added depth and craftsmanship while still keeping the overall system clean and modern.
These details are not meant to stand out individually. Instead, they work together to create a layered and intentional connection back to the property’s identity. When these details come together, the most successful moments in experiential design are the ones that feel completely seamless.
Multifamily signage: Balancing function & creativity
Every signage project has to balance two things at once: creative vision and real-world requirements.
Multifamily signage needs to be clear, durable, and easy to navigate. It also has to meet accessibility standards, comply with code, and work within fabrication and budget constraints. That balance is where intentional design becomes especially important.
At The Metropolitan, one of the key challenges was making sure all functional requirements were met without compromising the visual direction. The system needed to remain clear and legible while still reflecting the nautical-inspired interior language. That required careful attention to typography, hierarchy, material choices, mounting methods, and placement throughout the building.
When this balance is achieved, the functional side of signage almost disappears, while still fully supporting accessibility. People move throughout the space naturally without having to think about it.
Extending the story through experiential graphics
not stop at wall-mounted signs. Experiential graphics are a chance to take the story into unexpected places and make everyday spaces feel more meaningful.
At The Metropolitan, that idea really comes through in the parking garage. The large-scale mural, titled “Waterfront Waves,” becomes a bold moment of arrival. Inspired by the movement of water, it uses flowing forms, layered graphics, and vibrant colors to reflect the nearby river and waterfront setting.
Placed right at the garage entrance, it does a few things at once. It creates a strong first impression, signals arrival, and reinforces the connection to the building’s location.
What could have easily been a purely utilitarian space instead becomes part of the experience. That is one of the best opportunities in experiential design. Every surface has the potential to tell part of the story when it is designed with intention.
Collaboration from concept to installation
Good signage work is always collaborative. Design sets the vision, but fabricators are the ones who bring it into the real world. Material sourcing, fabrication methods, engineering details, and installation all play a role in how the final system comes together.
For The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk, close collaboration with Duncan-Parnell as the fabricator helped make sure the final result stayed true to the original intent. The process for this project included shop drawings, material samples, prototypes, and ongoing communication throughout production.
The best outcomes happen when everyone is working toward the same goal instead of working separately. That kind of collaboration is what makes complex design ideas possible in the built environment, translating them into something real, durable, and well executed.
How custom signage adds value
Custom signage is often one of the last elements installed, but it can have one of the biggest impacts on how people experience a property.
It helps create a strong first impression, supports branding, improves navigation, and contributes to the overall feel of a space. Good signage helps people feel comfortable and confident in their surroundings while reinforcing the unique character of a property.
For multifamily, hospitality, mixed-use, and commercial projects, signage is much more than a finishing detail. It is an opportunity to elevate the experience, strengthen a property’s identity, and create a stronger connection between people and place.
At its best, signage does more than help people find their way. It helps create a memorable experience and gives a property something that sets it apart.
Final thoughts
The Metropolitan at the Riverwalk shows what can happen when multifamily signage is thought about from the very beginning of a project instead of being added at the end.
By pulling inspiration from the waterfront setting, studying the architecture and interiors, and being intentional about materials and fabrication, the signage becomes a natural extension of the overall design vision.
Lauren Stern is the owner and experiential designer at Studio 618, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based consultancy specializing in story-driven signage and wayfinding. She transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences and authored “Signs Have Much to Say,” a children’s book about the importance of signage, available on Amazon. Learn more at studio618design.com.
