wayfinding
Post on 24-May-2015
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WayfindingTuomas Alahäivälä & Joseph Macey
Wayfinding
● “The process of using spatial and environmental information to navigate any destination.”
Four stages of Wayfinding
● Orientation● Route Decision● Route Monitoring● Destination Recognition
Orientation
Determining location in reference to current surroundings and destination.
Ways to improve Orientation
● Create smaller spaces● Create distinct zones within a space● Create unique spaces with landmarks and
signage
Route Decision
Selecting the best possible path is dependant on the user, the space, and the circumstances.
Ways to improve Route Decision
● Minimize options● Introduce prompts at decision points● Indicate shortest route● Keep directions and signage simple● Provide maps
Route Monitoring
The process by which the chosen route is assessed and progress toward the destination is confirmed.
Ways to improve Route Monitoring
● Paths between locations should have obvious beginnings, middles and ends
● Paths should include information giving relative location
● Long or slow paths should include visual imagery to encourage momentum
● Breadcrumbs are a means of facilitating error correction
Destination Recognition
The process by which the end goal is highlighted and made obvious to the user.
Ways to improve Destination Recognition
● Destination should be enclosed forming natural dead ends
● If the above is not possible, use obstacles to slow the natural rate of progress
● Provide destinations with obvious identities
Example: London Underground
Orientation● Colour-coded lines● Station names● Easily recognizable logo
Example: London Underground
Route decision● The map presents only
essential information● Announcements● Platform-specific
signage● Maps availability
Example: London Underground
Route monitoring● Announcements● Visual clues – e.g.
tile patterns● Textual information
in carriages● Route planning with a mobile app
Example: London Underground
Destination recognition● Announcements● Trains stop at every station● Station identities● Routes to platforms are strictly defined
Example: The Guardian
Orientation● Section titles● The logo● Headlines● Colour-coding of sections
Example: The Guardian
Route decision● Summaries under headlines● Headlines linked to the articles● Keywords● Suggested articles● Grouped articles
Example: The Guardian
Route monitoring● “Breadcrumbs”● Keywords● Suggested articles● Consistent content by section
Example: The Guardian
Destination recognition● Headline/content
immediately visible● Reduced options● Section identities
Summary
● Wayfinding is a process which has both physical and abstract applications
● Providing user with affordances which are unambiguous
● A design element can have multiple functions in wayfinding
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