Wayfinding- How to Stop People from Getting Lost!
If you’re a business owner, the last thing you want is for your clients and customers to get lost while navigating through your building. After all, being unable to find their way can be detrimental to user experience and productivity.
Fortunately, with wayfinding solutions such as digital signage and beacon technology, it’s now possible for businesses across industries to stop people from getting lost or wandering in circles looking for something specific.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how smart buildings that use these solutions provide Employees and Visitors with an improved sense of direction but also helps boost overall efficiency throughout the organization.
What is Wayfinding
Have you heard the terms way-finding and navigation being used interchangeably? While they don’t mean the same, they are related concepts. Navigation is how people find their way to a destination in an unfamiliar landscape, sometimes using landmarks as navigational anchors.
Wayfinding (or way-finding) encompasses how people place themselves in a physical space and navigate from place to place. Wayfinding software is a software program that helps people (users) to find a location, which can be indoors or outdoors, in an airport, in a hospital or a mall.
Fundamental Principles While Designing A Wayfinding System
Wayfinding systems help people comprehend their surroundings and get their directions in an unfamiliar environment. It will be effective if some key principles and best practices are followed:
- Clear and consistent visual communication: Users should not have to guess about where they are or where they need to go. It is essential to ensure signs are legible, visible and easy to understand and also ensure signage is consistent throughout the space.
- Keep it simple: Visitors should be able to see what is needed, and the information should include location identities, landmarks and well-structured paths. Any excessive information can be confusing and should be avoided.
When these principles are followed, wayfinding users will likely be able to orient themselves and navigate to their desired location.
How Does A Wayfinding System Work?
There are various ways to integrate wayfinding systems into day-to-day operations, like a geographical map, or a cognitive map.
- Navigation: Navigation is the physical “direction” to the destination of choice. Things like signs and roads can serve as navigation.
- Orientation: To navigate, you must be able to specify where you are in the wayfinding system and that you’re moving in the right direction. Such effective navigation is obtained using a tool like a map. This will make it easier to locate your destination, landmarks, and more.
- Landmarks: These are particular locations that make this system more legible and easier to use. Landmarks can include objects, buildings, art installations, museums, etc.
Benefits:
The benefits of having an effective wayfinding system are numerous.
- It can help reduce anxiety and stress levels by giving visitors the information they need to reach their destination.
- Reduce the amount of time spent searching for a destination.
- Create a better user experience overall.
- It also boosts brand recognition by providing visitors with familiarity and connection to the organization.
One use case for this effective solution is in healthcare facilities. Visitors to Hospitals, clinics and other medical centres can benefit from having clear indoor navigation signs that enable patients and visitors to find their way around the space quickly.
Furthermore, this solution can provide additional information on the facility’s services, such as directions to the pharmacy or cafeteria.
Conclusion
Overall, wayfinding solutions provide a clear benefit for organizations looking to improve user experience and streamline indoor navigation within their buildings.
By leveraging key design principles and incorporating digital technologies, organizations can create an effective wayfinding system that leads to a successful user experience.
