Central Design Agency

Products

Totems and pylons

A free-standing carrier at the approach — the first thing a building says about itself from the road. It carries the name, the contents and the direction, and has to survive wind and winter.

A totem is not picked from a catalogue but from where it is seen. Before drawing we record the approach directions, the speed people drive past at, where a line of trees breaks the sightline and how many seconds a driver actually has to read it. Height, width and letter size follow from that — everything else is a consequence.

Under every totem sits a foundation and a structural calculation, not just a nice shape. On tall pylons that is the most expensive invisible part of the job: the base, the anchors, the wind-load check and the power duct laid before the paving is poured. Skip it and the totem gets repaired in its second winter.

Totems and pylons — example of delivered work

What this covers

Entrance and approach totems

Carrying the building name and main contents, placed at the decision point where a driver turns.

Pylons with tenant lists

Fields built so that changing one tenant does not require a new board.

Info totems inside

Maps with you-are-here marking, listings and nearest facilities.

Lighting

Internal LED with an even face, or external floodlighting where the sign is non-illuminated.

Foundation and structure

Wind-load calculation, foundation, anchors and service ducts.

Permit documentation

Submission drawings where the totem stands on public land or beside a road.

Where we delivered it

Kruševac Shopping Park

External signage for a shopping park: approach totems, pictograms and warning signage in the…

Big Fashion

Internal signage with the centre's yellow info totems and a system of suspended directional…

TC Stadion

Internal signage: totems carrying the level directory, level markings at the lifts and…

Frequently asked questions

Height is not a free choice — it depends on the site, the road and the municipality. We propose a height after the site visit, together with what is realistically permittable.

Yes. On pylons we have delivered, fields are made for replacement, so only the insert changes. It is part of the maintenance we agree with building management.

Often the structure and foundation stay while the face, lighting and graphics change. That is far cheaper than a new totem and we do it whenever the structure is sound.

Related services

External signage

The first sign a visitor sees is the one from the street. We design and deliver external…

Have a building to sign?

Tell us the building type, its size and the stage it is at. These details help us prepare a more specific response.