Wayfinding

Wayfinding
A term that usually refers to signs, maps, and other graphic or audible methods used to convey location and directions to travelers. In other words, it refers to the user experience of orientation and choosing a path within the built environment, whether this occurs in the form of architecture or a website interface. It allows one to **not** get lost, providing information for them to know where they are, where their desitination is, the best routes and knowledge on finding their way back. This is really important in design as the ability to incorporate the way users navigate through the various environments can allow numerous benefits such as time efficiency, better promotion locations, and just a happy attitude overall from the ease. Basically, the more one improves on wayfinding, the more the easy navigation benefits everyone. "Wayfinding" was first coined by an urban planner named Kevin A. Lynch in his 1960 book //Image of the City//, where he defined wayfinding as “a consistent use and organization of definite sensory cues from the external environment"[|[1]] . The term was further expanded in 1984 by environmental psychologist Romedi Passini in "Wayfinding in Architecture" to include signage and other graphic communication, clues inherent in the building's spatial grammar, logical space planning, audible communication, tactile elements, and provision for special-needs users [|[2]]. Some problematic situations include signage systems that incorporate branding, as the focus becomes the advertisement rather than the actual information being conveyed. Another has to do with information overload. In situations where road signs are considered, clutter of written elements (ie. destination names) make for difficult readability when passengers pass by in their vehicles (Buxton 19).

Visual exmaples of Wayfinding: [|[3]].

References: [1][2] "Wayfinding". Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayfinding Retrieved on 2007-09-23. [3] "2/90 Sign Systems|Modular - Wayfinding". 2/90 Sign Systems Inc. http://www.290signs.com/products/interior/modular/wayfinding/wayfinding.php Retrieved on 2007-09-23. Buxton, Pamela. "Clean Slate." ____Design Week____ Apr. 2005: 19-20.

Other Sources: http://www.wayfinding.com/ http://www.joburg.org.za/citichat/2007/mar19_citichat11.stm