Wayfinding — Beyond sign design.

Wayfinding should be transparent to the visitor. It is most successful when it integrates a facility’s policies, procedures, brand, image, architecture and signage. To that end, the wayfinding expert’s value is maximized when he or she is part of the initial planning, design and/or renovation team for any facility.
Picture…

…an eight-year-old on crutches and her/his parent coming to your hospital fro appointment with Radiology and Physical Therapy.
Ask yourself…

• Where must they park in relation to their appointments?
• How far from their parking stall will this parent/child team find a wheelchair?
• How easily will they find the correct entrance? The elevators?
• Is a directory of departments posted outside the elevators? Inside?
• Are Radiology and Physical Therapy located near one another?
• Did these visitors receive any directions in advance to guide them to their appointments? If so, do the directions they received match actual experience?
• All together, how far did the eight-year-old on crutches travel for these two appointments?

 

Return to Frustration & Inefficiency

Example #4
When people cannot find their way, frustration and stress result.