Wayfinding is not a word that is found in a dictionary. It was coined recently to describe the art of helping people to find their way to a destination, usually in a building or public facility. Directing people can be done visually or audibly. Audible direction requires a person to give directions and adds a cost to the organization, whether it be a staffed information desk or interruptions to workers. Visual direction, done effectively, allows people to find their way to a destination easily, on their own. It has a one-time cost in design and implementation.
Wayfinding has three basic forms:
Landmarking – this is the use of landmarks such as sculpture and art.
Architectural features – such as arches over main entrances, and elevator lobbies painted in bold colours.
Signage – signs are the key element in a Wayfinding system.
Wayfinding signage must follow some simple principles to be effective. These are:
Wayfinding is for visitors
Largest to smallest
Organize the known
Direct at decision points
Continuity
Relation to the environment
Readability
Placement
1. Wayfinding is for visitors. While this seems obvious, the designer of a Wayfinding system must keep it in mind. All of us can make our way to work or home easily. Daily users of the transit system in a large city never need to look at a sign. But when we are seeking a new destination, we depend upon the signs to lead us to it. The design must be for those who don’t know the way.
2. Largest to smallest. Wayfinding signage has three elements: general information (largest), directional information, and space identification (smallest). Systems should guide visitors to their destinations from the large to the small. Using a hospital as an example, the first sign should identify the name and address of the facility. The next directs the visitor to parking. Once parked, the visitor requires direction to the main entrance. At the main entrance, a directory of services and their locations (wings, etc.) is provided. Directional signs guide the visitor to the wing they want. Directional signs in the wing guide the visitors to the department they are seeking. Room signs identify individual spaces.
3. Organize the known. Again, this seems obvious, but it is often ignored. If you are looking for a company, the directory should organize the company names alphabetically (the known) with suite or unit numbers (the unknown) following. Many directories have the unit numbers in sequence on the left, with the company names following. This is just as ridiculous as a phone book with the listings organized by sequential phone numbers, with names after the numbers, would be.
4. Direct at decision points. Decision points are places where we can go in more than one direction. Directional signs at decision points should clearly indicate all destinations in each direction.
5. Continuity. Once a destination has been included in the Wayfinding system, directions to it must be placed at every decision point.
Example: At the beginning of a corridor there is a sign with an up arrow showing that three departments are located down that corridor. Halfway along there is an intersection with a cross corridor. One department is to the left, one straight ahead and one to the right. It is not enough to have a sign showing only the departments to the left and right, even though the visitor is already travelling in the direction of the department that is straight ahead. The visitor is being asked to make a decision based on assumption rather than information. The third department, with an up arrow, must be on the sign as well.
6. Relation to the environment. Maps and plans are typically oriented with north at the top. Maps and plans in a Wayfinding system, however, should be oriented in the direction in which they are viewed. Up is straight ahead; left and right are left and right; down is behind you. This allows the visitor to visualize the path to be taken. A clear “you are here” marker is essential. Floor directories in a building should have the top floor at the top of the directory and a notice telling visitors what floor they are on.
7. Readability. For signs to be effective, they must be easily readable. This requires a simple type face and good contrast. Upper and lower-case lettering is more easily readable than all upper-case. Destinations in each direction should be grouped and share an arrow. A horizontal line between direction groups reinforces which destinations are in each direction.
Arrows (up for ahead, left and right) and text should be on the sign in a logical manner: destinations ahead at the top, those to the right justified to the right with the arrow on the right, those to the left justified to the left with the arrow on the left. Never put a right arrow on the left of a sign, or vice-versa. Arrows should “pull” the text, and the visitor, in the direction they are indicating.
8. Placement. Wall-mounted directional and space identification signage should be placed in an “infoband” of between 1300 and 1600 mm above the finished Floor. Room identification signs, with the exception of washrooms and utility rooms, should be mounted on the wall on the latch side of the door. Avoid placing signs on doors (if the door is open, the sign can only be seen from one direction, at best). A double sided sign projecting from the wall above a washroom entrance, in addition to the sign on the door, is a good idea. Washrooms are the most asked-for destination.
Effective Wayfinding signage benefits both the owner of the facility and its users. It should be easy to achieve if these principles are followed.
Article by Robert denBoer – Originally Published in Facility Management & Design Magazine
Wayfinding
Wayfinding is not a word that is found in a dictionary. It was coined recently to describe the art of helping people to find their way to a destination, usually in a building or public facility. Directing people can be done visually or audibly. Audible direction requires a person to give directions and adds a cost to the organization, whether it be a staffed information desk or interruptions to workers. Visual direction, done effectively, allows people to find their way to a destination easily, on their own. It has a one-time cost in design and implementation.
Wayfinding has three basic forms:
Wayfinding signage must follow some simple principles to be effective. These are:
1. Wayfinding is for visitors. While this seems obvious, the designer of a Wayfinding system must keep it in mind. All of us can make our way to work or home easily. Daily users of the transit system in a large city never need to look at a sign. But when we are seeking a new destination, we depend upon the signs to lead us to it. The design must be for those who don’t know the way.
2. Largest to smallest. Wayfinding signage has three elements: general information (largest), directional information, and space identification (smallest). Systems should guide visitors to their destinations from the large to the small. Using a hospital as an example, the first sign should identify the name and address of the facility. The next directs the visitor to parking. Once parked, the visitor requires direction to the main entrance. At the main entrance, a directory of services and their locations (wings, etc.) is provided. Directional signs guide the visitor to the wing they want. Directional signs in the wing guide the visitors to the department they are seeking. Room signs identify individual spaces.
3. Organize the known. Again, this seems obvious, but it is often ignored. If you are looking for a company, the directory should organize the company names alphabetically (the known) with suite or unit numbers (the unknown) following. Many directories have the unit numbers in sequence on the left, with the company names following. This is just as ridiculous as a phone book with the listings organized by sequential phone numbers, with names after the numbers, would be.
4. Direct at decision points. Decision points are places where we can go in more than one direction. Directional signs at decision points should clearly indicate all destinations in each direction.
5. Continuity. Once a destination has been included in the Wayfinding system, directions to it must be placed at every decision point.
Example: At the beginning of a corridor there is a sign with an up arrow showing that three departments are located down that corridor. Halfway along there is an intersection with a cross corridor. One department is to the left, one straight ahead and one to the right. It is not enough to have a sign showing only the departments to the left and right, even though the visitor is already travelling in the direction of the department that is straight ahead. The visitor is being asked to make a decision based on assumption rather than information. The third department, with an up arrow, must be on the sign as well.
6. Relation to the environment. Maps and plans are typically oriented with north at the top. Maps and plans in a Wayfinding system, however, should be oriented in the direction in which they are viewed. Up is straight ahead; left and right are left and right; down is behind you. This allows the visitor to visualize the path to be taken. A clear “you are here” marker is essential. Floor directories in a building should have the top floor at the top of the directory and a notice telling visitors what floor they are on.
7. Readability. For signs to be effective, they must be easily readable. This requires a simple type face and good contrast. Upper and lower-case lettering is more easily readable than all upper-case. Destinations in each direction should be grouped and share an arrow. A horizontal line between direction groups reinforces which destinations are in each direction.
Arrows (up for ahead, left and right) and text should be on the sign in a logical manner: destinations ahead at the top, those to the right justified to the right with the arrow on the right, those to the left justified to the left with the arrow on the left. Never put a right arrow on the left of a sign, or vice-versa. Arrows should “pull” the text, and the visitor, in the direction they are indicating.
8. Placement. Wall-mounted directional and space identification signage should be placed in an “infoband” of between 1300 and 1600 mm above the finished Floor. Room identification signs, with the exception of washrooms and utility rooms, should be mounted on the wall on the latch side of the door. Avoid placing signs on doors (if the door is open, the sign can only be seen from one direction, at best). A double sided sign projecting from the wall above a washroom entrance, in addition to the sign on the door, is a good idea. Washrooms are the most asked-for destination.
Effective Wayfinding signage benefits both the owner of the facility and its users. It should be easy to achieve if these principles are followed.
Article by Robert denBoer – Originally Published in Facility Management & Design Magazine
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