Uber San Francisco
SETTING THE WORLD IN MOTION
SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING
NAVIGATING THE WAY TO AN ENHANCED USER EXPERIENCE
Whether it’s a bustling precinct, educational campus, entertainment resort or commercial tower, well-designed wayfinding systems offer benefits that go beyond just guiding people from A to B. When we are unsure where to go within an environment, poorly considered signage can lead to confusion, frustration and an overall negative experience of that place.
A well-planned wayfinding system can increase our navigational confidence whilst also having a profound impact on user engagement, creating positive experiences by association.
Strategic Storytelling
A good wayfinding strategy gives consideration to a number of factors. Site context, architecture, culture, and heritage – combined with a good understanding of the intended audience – all shape the creation of efficient signage.
Designs can also go beyond functional efficacy too, incorporating elements of storytelling that provide interpretation of a site through engaging and relatable representations of our surroundings. Messages should strategically highlight certain elements whilst downplaying others – providing a comprehensive snapshot of the environment without overwhelming users with too much information.
Universally Understood
Inclusive signage design ensures that information is easily understood by the broadest range of visitors, using globally recognised elements to enable navigation. For a diverse audience that might have varying levels of literacy, language use or visual impairments, pictograms outperform words. Further consideration also needs to be given to typography, colours and materiality to provide legible content that works across a variety of backdrops.
In key applications, signage also needs to comply to relevant building codes, providing critical information and access for users with mobility needs.
