One of the most important aspects of wayfinding design is ensuring that all users of the area are taken into consideration. Therefore, accessibility and legibility is something that should be consistent throughout the entire wayfinding project, no matter where the environment is or how it’s used. Here are some of the different considerations users of an environment may require:
“70-75 per cent of the information we receive is given through eyesight. Anyone with a significant degree of sight loss, or no sight at all, will experience an ‘information deficit’. So it is crucial that sign practitioners maximise the visibility and legibility of signs to make use of any remaining vision. Embossed, Braille and audible signs can improve access for those with a limited vision” – Peter Barker, Manager, JMU Access Partnership
Individuals with visual impairment can easily identify numbers and shapes rather than names. This is advantageous to sign design as numbers can be made larger without taking up more space. It is also important to consider the colour schemes that are being used. Certain levels of contrast are much easier to see than others and it is important to choose colour patterns that will stay distinct even as the signage fades with time. In terms of fonts, using clear, easy to read fonts is recommended as they can more easily be recognised by all users. Additionally, pictograms and universally recognised symbols are helpful for those who do not have English as their first language.
Legibility is one of the key considerations for developing strong visual communications. There has been considerable research done by organisations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into the necessary guidelines and standards required in the built environment. This research has allowed associations like the Standards for Accessible Design (SAD) to guide the graphic design community into creating signage that is accessible as possible.
Here are some of the basic guidelines:
You can find more information about legibility, here.
When designing a wayfinding strategy, there are four main sign groups: information signs, direction signs, identification signs and mandatory signs. These are all extremely important and the content on these signs need to be accessible to all users.
These signs are, as the name suggests, informative. They are often found throughout an environment internally and externally. They can be located externally, in the car park or on pedestrian walkways, or they can be internal and used to identify main locations inside of buildings. For example, they may depict directories and maps.
These can be found all along the users’ journey, from start to finish. These are often arrow-shaped or have arrows pointing in the necessary direction as well as including directional text. These tend to have a key at the bottom to help avoid confusion.
These signs are usually site-specific and tend to be installed at individual destinations to indicate the location of a facility or service. For example, the sign that shows an individuals’ office or specific destination. These are without arrows or any directional instruction.
The number and placement of these signs will often be dictated by government and building policy. Examples of these are those for safety warnings, exits, fire safety instructions, details about fire or safety equipment, etc.
All of the above-mentioned signs should be used consistently throughout the environment. The language used on all signage should stay consistent in terms of font, colour, text size as well as sign layout. These signs should also be placed at the same height throughout the building.
If you’d like to further discuss accessibility & legibility in wayfinding design, or you’d like to increase the accessibility in your built environment, get in touch! We’d