OUGD502 - PPP SB2 - What is way finding and signage?

Wayfinding, is the way in which design can be used to guide and navigate people around certain areas or their surroundings. Through the identification of landmarks, structures or distance it is possible to memorise and interpret ways of getting from point A to point B in an efficient manner.

What makes a way finding system good?
- One that does not require much thinking (A clear and concise system that shows the right communicative system.)
- Only showing what is necessary (Information that is suited to navigating a certain path or direction for the viewer.)
- Limited information (information in excess can make a system forgetful and more complex than is needed.)

Landmarks, specific building or well known locations can be memorised as points that help to navigate through a journey. They assist in the understanding of a location on a larger scale. In the same way a building can be navigated through using popular areas, noticeable environments or signs.

Orientation is important because it allows people to navigate around a space with a sense of scale and distance involved. The distance from one location to another can be understood by timing or through the use of a map. The best way to use a map would be head-up in the direction the viewer is facing. That way they know what objects may be ahead of them, while trying to get to their destination in the most efficient way.

Things to consider

• The space in which the way finding system will be applied
• Who the way finding system will be designed for
• Where the signage will be situated
• What the theme of the project will be

Ideas with group

• The way finding could be made using neon lights to guide the audience from the entrance to their desired destination
• The different disciplines could be identified by using certain colours for each
• A trail system could guide the audience as apposed to arrows or signs (point to point)
• A projection system that guides the audience using light

Mood boards for idea generation

Some ideas that came from these images were to try creating a path for the audience to follow. This way they wouldn't have to search for individual signs. One of the main ideas would be to hang lighting from the ceiling, (preferably neon lighting), that would run from the entrance to the rooms based on the colour coordinating to the subject. For example, if Illustration was to use orange as its theme then a cord of orange lights could lead them to the studio from the entrance. Other ideas included adding numbers to the trail so that the audience know how many steps it would take to get to the destination, or by projecting a direction of the current way in which to go. There could also be a central map included in the centre of the building, such as in the cafeteria. This would then lead to different studios throughout the building.

Role within the group

As a group, it was decided that roles would allow several different avenues of the design to be explored. The role that would be taken by me during the initial stages of the project would be to look into trails and ways that they can be manipulated in order to create a way finding system. This would mean looking at different examples of trails and pathways, how they are designed and what inspiration can be taken from them to further develop our own way finding system. 

This example of a trail guide across England and Wales showed different routes that people can explore and the information relating to them. This brought about the idea of possibly including a guide at the entrance that people could use to see which route to take, before beginning a journey.