What are the Five Principles of Wayfinding?

5 Principles of Wayfinding Enabling people to intuitively explore a place without a set plan

A Perfect Wayfinding tool isn't a Chimera Not if it is founded on five wayfinding design principles

A wayfinding system is about more than just improving user experience. At its core, the system allows users to hop from one point to another without being forced to take the same path twice. When efficiency is incorporated into i ndoor wayfinding, it increases the amount of time people spend at points of interest and influences their purchasing deisions.

• Create location identifiers The description of a location is enhanced when it is painted vividly. Adding extra visual details such as color, glow, and piste-markers improves the ability of location users to extract relevant information.

2. Organize maps into zones A structured path is incomplete unless there is clear contrast between two adjacent regions. They must be distinguishable even when there are no visible borders while the navigator is in motion.

3. Design well-laid mapping paths Unambiguous paths assist users in locating themselves in a spatial context. A structured path, like a north star, orients users to an environment by using landmarks and distance to destination data.

4. Use visual markers at Point of Interest Wayfinding relies heavily on perceptual filtering.

Visual markers such as landmarks serve as excellent points of reference for users to determine their precise location and orientation in a given environment.

5. Limit exploration choices A user journey should be considered before designing a map with branching options that merge back to the original path. This prevents deviating from the path and leaving the system.

Results

User explores without a handrail Removes complexity from wayfinding so that users can navigate without distorting signs interfering with their experience.

Makes visitor experience more intuitive When design and flow is optimized, it leaves users only one option that is follow their impulsive decision

5 Qualitative Results

Build a venerable brand Even without aggressive promotion, any path that feels intuitive to navigate will place users within and between brands they value.

Places brand where it is highly valued Wayfinding is successful when brands are discovered and experienced in the same way that users experience a physical store.

Improves efficiency; saves cost and effort A strategic approach to wayfinding considers all extremes of user behavior. It enables the design team in answering all "what-if" questions so that no stone is left unturned.