Wayfinding as a Methodology for Design
Introduction
We believe that wayfinding is more than just a service that we provide. Throughout years in the design industry the way you design a wayfinding project has led us to work in a specific way and had a profound effect on our process. Because of this, we wanted to explain what it is and how it can improve your design project.
What is Wayfinding?
A Built Environment Dicipline
People often ask whether wayfinding is a made up word or an ‘Americanism’. Neither is true. In fact, it’s an industry recognised term for design that most people use every day without even realising. Wayfinding is an aid for navigating an environment. This can be anything from an arrow in a corridor to a complex set of designs for a series of built spaces.
A Way of Thinking
Once you start figuring out what people want, where they need to go, and how they’re likely to try to get there, wayfinding can become a useful tool. This process can also be applied to websites, adverts or brochures.
How Can Wayfinding Benefit All Design Processes?
Selective Disclosure
The design process behind wayfinding allows designers to think about the end user and consider what they might want to know at any given point. In wayfinding design, we call this ‘selective disclosure’. It means placing information only where and when people need to see it. It also means not adding anything that isn’t needed and could distract someone.
The Benefits
By thinking in this way, you can create an intuitive user experience. This can lead to, increased revenue, higher footfall, repeat custom and better trust in a brand.
A Built Environment Specialist
The built environment relies on wayfinding to complement the layouts of spaces and make them easy to navigate.
Simpkin Burley’s Expertise
Simpkin Burley’s Founder and Creative Director, Dan Simpkin, has lots of experience with wayfinding tactics. He has worked in the architecture industry for almost 20 years. This is why customer journey plays a key role in Simpkin Burley’s approach to all the creative work they create for their clients.
Added Value for Your Project
A Better Thought Process
It’s easy for a graphic designer to go through the motions in terms of research, concept design and developing ideas to create a perfectly adequate design.
There is a Better Way
However, using wayfinding as a methodology for design allows us to plan customer journeys for a number of target customer journey types and incorporate their needs into the final design. This often makes a more rounded design and allows us to engage with people in a way that others aren’t.
Find Your Way With Us
Exceeding Expectations
Wayfinding allows us to take a step back from a client’s brief and determine creative solutions that improve the final design and surpass our clients expectations.
Contact Us
If you’re interested in developing your business or development’s brand identity, get in touch. We can help you to lead your customers on a meaningful and rewarding journey.
