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