From publications

The Wily Wayfinder

Demystifying the discipline of wayfinding by Rachel Downey and Natalie Ata, Studio Graphique

Under the grand umbrella of Visual Communication Design huddles a number of specialized design fields, from print and web design to advertising and illustration and so on. Of these, no one group is more difficult to pin down than the Environmental Graphic Design (EGD) family. Even the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (segd.org) has a difficult time choosing just one description, which is why their definition of EGD includes graphic, architectural, interior, landscape, and industrial design, all concerned with the visual aspects of wayfinding, communicating identity and information, and shaping the idea of place.

To confuse matters further, they go on to list many types of projects by EGD practitioners, among which this term “Wayfinding” appears. The uninitiated may deduce from the word that Wayfinding is “helping people find their way.” But that can still be a bit nebulous to those who aren’t involved in creating built environments. In this article, we aim to paint a clearer picture of the complicated projects and people involved in this niche practice – a niche we happen to love.

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Sign guides

Design Week; 16th June 2011

From London to Dubai to Bangalore, effective signage and identity designs are playing an important role in the success or failure of urban transport systems. Tom Banks casts an eye over some of the latest developments.

Seen by city-dwellers every day and often taken for granted, identity designs for urban transport systems need to be visible, comprehensible and practical while linking into a wider system where possible, experts say.

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Populous shows changing signs of the times in Stratford

Design Week; 3rd March 2011

Design details are emerging of the new Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, set to open in east London in September. westfield1

The centre will feature a Populous-designed wayfinding system, reflecting the form of the building, and a two-floor food court, designed by Softroom, which was selected over Tom Dixon, Heatherwick Studio and Conran & Partners, and which is looking to channel the 'essence of the East End'.

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Landor Associates' new wayfinding systems for Great Ormond Street Hospital

Creative Review: Gavin Lucas, Dec 2010

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Working on a pro bono basis, Landor Associates has created two distinct wayfinding systems for Great Ormond Street childrens' Hospital (GOSH).

The first (which has already been implemented) sees each of the hospital's six buildings take on a particular colour identity to make navigation through the various buildings easier. And the second, which has been specifically devised for the yet-to-be completed Llewelyn Davies Yeang designed Morgan Stanley Clinic Building (MSCB), is based on the natural world. A host of different animal characters will help visitors to the building find their way around, as well as put children at ease in the environment...

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Pointers to the future

Design Week; 27th January 2011

If we are to develop truly sustainable cities, we will have to walk and cycle more, and drive less. Scott Billings looks at a new city development where the wayfinding is being driven by a desire for a cleaner, energy efficient urban environment.

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