Way-finding what it is

What is way-finding?

while looking around to find the different approaches to way finding I came across a company names SEGD who, according to their website are 'an association that create content-rich, emotionally compelling, experiential spaces for a wide range of environments, from hospitals and transit hubs to museums and educational campuses'. 

Their views on creating a way finding system are to make sure that it particularly important in complex build environments such as healthcare centres, urban buildings, educational campuses and Transportation facilities. As architectural environments become more complicated, people have to have visual cues such as maps, directions, and symbols to help guide them to their destinations. In these often high-stress environments, effective way finding systems contribute to a sense of well-being, safety, and security.

To a designer, when creating a way-finding system it has to inform the people of their surroundings when in a unfamiliar place. A key aspect to this is to show information of points of importance to guide people in the right directions. the human mind will store information such as distances, time and locations differently than they would do in reality. To create an effective way-finding system is to base it on these human behaviours taking into account the following points:

• Do not make them think
• Show only what is needed
• Remove excessive information
• show the information that is relevant to the location 
• create it to be clear and legible

and finally Way-finding can be defined as spatial problem solving in areas such as signs, maps, and other graphic or audible methods used to convey location and directions to travellers.

Resources

Websites

• SEGD: What is Way-finding (link)
• Introduction to Way-finding (link) 

Books:

• The wayfinding handbook: information design for public places (PDF)
• Wayfinding in Architecture (PDF)