About the Don Valley Way

The Don Valley Way is a walking trail that follows the River Don from Doncaster to Sheffield. It is 29 miles long and the whole trail can be used by walkers, with approximately half suitable for cyclists.

The trail is part of a Heritage Lottery funded project celebrating the history and wildlife of the River Don.

In 2016 I was commissioned by Don Catchment Rivers Trust (DCRT) to create a brand style and logo for the Don Valley Way. This brand style has subsequently been applied to way markers, literature, signage and a website.

Project management of Don Valley Way signage

In 2018 I began working with the trust on a range of seventeen public information stands. The stands inform the viewer about the historical and natural heritage of the river Don at a particular location.

Working closely with the trusts’ project manager, Rachel Walker, we visited each location to discuss the most suitable solution for the signage. The agreed signage requirement size and format was then factored into the graphic design stage.

As part of the design, I researched each location in order to create a visually engaging representation of the written content. Once the designs were approved I created digital artwork suitable for production.

Production specifications

The public information stands covered a variety of sizes and formats. However, all were fabricated to the same specifications: The frames are fabricated from powder coated aluminium and the graphic panels from Durable Ali Plus.

This production specification provides a robust and durable weather resistant solution.

Installation of the signs

Working with my client I was responsible for the installation of the 17 public information stands at locations in Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Through liaison with my client and other stake holders, the date for each installation was agreed in advance. Installations were planned on a geographic basis in order to install information stands at several locations within a working day.

Installation requirements and ground integrity were assessed during the inital site visit. However, we did have some hurdles (well stiles) to overcome as some locations are inaccessible to vehicles. In these instances the signage materials and tools were transported to site via wheel barrow.