What is wayfinding and signage?

About wayfinding and signage

Wayfinding is about effective communication and relies on a succession of communication cues delivered through our sensory system or visional, audible, tactile and olfactory elements.

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Wayfinding can be complex for people to navigate, particularly if they are a first-time visitor to a destination. A clearly defined wayfinding system should include:

• Pre-visit information
• Architectural and environmental cues
• Signage and information that is easy to read and in logical locations.

Effective wayfinding systems will assist people to:

• Confirm they are at the correct start or finish point of a journey
• Identify their location within a building or external space
• Reinforce they are travelling in the right direction
• Orient themselves within a building or external space
• Understand the location and any potential hazards
• Identify their destination on arrival
• Escape safely in an emergency[vii].

What is wayfinding?

Wayfinding is the process of how people orientate themselves and navigate in a space or along a pathway. It is a combination of graphic design, architectural design and landscape design. Signage can help wayfinding.

Wayfinding is about knowing where you are, where you&#;re headed, how to get there, how to recognise when you&#;re there, and when needed, how to find your way out of a place.

Wayfinding enables problem solving and moving around spaces by using consistent environmental clues. Design features that enable wayfinding include lines on the ground to indicate a way out, and symbols and colours to indicate male/female toilets, accessible toilets, lifts and exits.

Good wayfinding design can minimise the need for detailed signage.

Effective wayfinding principles and strategies will reduce the likelihood of errors in navigation and orientation.

What is signage?

Signage and other visual, tactile, sound, colour and light cues can either assist or hinder how people get around, find their way from one point to another and how to exit a place. When a space or pathway is well-considered and well-signed, it can help everyone feel more confident and safer, and can be essential for people with disability.

Signage and wayfinding design features should be consistent within and across different environments. Consistent features assist people to understand information and learn the patterns in a space, for instance, always using the same recognizable green signs for exits.

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Use of universal signs, such as road traffic signs, mean that through repeated use, they are understood without words and assist people move about and in the case of traffic signs to travel safely on roads.

For example:

Wayfinding strategy

Developing an effective wayfinding system begins with developing a strategy and ensuring a consistent approach is delivered. This requires engaging with a range of stakeholders and may involve a co-design process. The Consultation and Engagement with people living with disability toolkit has further information on co-design with people with lived experience of disability.

Disability inclusion in wayfinding

Why is it important?

Wayfinding and signage that considers accessibility and inclusion assists a diversity of users:

• multi-sensory features, including audible cues, scents and landmarks help all visitors
• wayfinding and signage that clearly indicates the accessible route through a building or public space benefits people with a mobility impairment and parents with prams
• use of shorelines, colour, texture and luminance contrast benefits people with low vision
• visual cues such as landmarks and pictograms on signs help tourists and people with lower literacy in English.

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[vii] CRC Construction for Construction Innovation , Wayfinding design Guidelines (PDF, 4.24MB)

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