First off… what is wayfinding? Wayfinding is essentially any signage that helps you find your way through any building, street, city etc. While that’s a short definition, wayfinding is quite complex. It’s such a crucial part of today’s society, yet it is often overlooked. Without the signs and maps that come along with wayfinding, the world would be a very confusing place. Sometimes we take for granted the signs and arrows that point us in the direction we need (and don’t need) to go. However, after reading this blog post we hope you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the signs, arrows and maps you pass everyday.
Wayfinding is found on streets and cities as well as inside buildings, car parks and plenty of other places. Typically, this signage is aimed at those less familiar with the area or place. This is because locals are more likely to know how to get where they want to, but newcomers may struggle and get lost. The ability to easily navigate an area will most likely correlate directly with your experience and opinion of a place. For example, if you find somewhere extremely confusing and get lost every 5 minutes, you’re unlikely to come back or recommend to others. Most of us don’t even realise that we’re utilising the wayfinding tools around us. For example, when you’re looking to cross the street, most of us will look for a zebra crossing. This is a type of wayfinding. How about when you’re giving directions to someone, you’ll probably use the name of a street or road exit. Again, wayfinding. Can you imagine how difficult life would be if none of these signs were around? That’s a world no one wants to live in.