Campus Wayfinding

A new sign and map system inside buildings to help people find the right place quicker‭

Collaborators: Yi-Yin Cho, Po-Hao Wang, Cing-Ah Hsu, Hsiao-Kuei Lin

Overview

In this project, we aimed to investigate and apply methodological approaches to solve wayfinding problems and propose design solutions. We started with the experience of "getting lost on campus" and employed analytical and conceptual skills and methods to enhance the campus's sign and map system for wayfinding.

My role :

Lead the team from research to final design output
Research & Analyze ( Field research, AEIOU frameworks, Prototype, Usability test )
Propose concepts
Presentation

Background & Motivation

A new semester is coming. A freshman at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) is trying to find classrooms, but it isn't easy. We wondered what causes this kind of situation, and besides students, it might be a problem for visitors.

Observation

We investigated the issue of people at NTUST struggling to find classrooms by conducting a test with Noreen, a first-time visitor to the campus. We asked her to locate two specific classrooms (E2-318 & T2-307) starting from the front gate and observed her journey.

Noreen had no trouble finding her way outside the buildings, but once she entered, she faced difficulty due to the lack of signs or maps. Additionally, she became confused between the E2 and T2 buildings since they are interconnected. This caused her to feel frustrated and disoriented, taking more than ten times of time it would usually take for an NTUST student to find T2-307.

Prototyping & User Testing

When the individual was directed to T2-307, they struggled to determine the relationship between the E2 and T2 buildings. There were no additional maps or signs available in the buildings, which caused them to spend a significant amount of time confirming their location and finding the classroom. As a result, we concluded that clear maps and signs were essential for preventing people from getting lost. Our goal was to create a wayfinding system with easy-to-understand and noticeable maps and signs. We tested several concepts by asking individuals who were unfamiliar with the NTUST campus to find T2-307 from E2-318 without informing them of the presence of maps and signs.

Sign Design

The signs are designed to convey information in an organized and easily understandable manner through geometric shapes and colors. Different colors represent different buildings, and the sign design consists of three elements: a circle, rectangles, and triangles. The circle shape represents the user's current location in the building. Rectangles extend from the circle shape to indicate the direction of classrooms within the buildings. The outer triangles indicate the directions of buildings.

To avoid confusion, it is recommended to position signs at intersections on the floor, ensuring that users can identify the correct orientation more easily. However, when the signs are intended to indicate only one or two directions, our testing has shown that placing them on the wall is more effective. This is because it is more noticeable and is easier to attract users' attention.

Map Design

We have simplified the map design based on feedback from previous user testing. Most people tend to memorize the relative position of their destination, so we've represented intersections as big dots. Classrooms are grouped into sections, and passages are shown as simplified lines since people don't need to know the exact path in the real world.

It's a common belief that people tend to look for information near elevators and stairs, so placing maps in those areas is a good idea. Additionally, it's necessary to make sure the map is at eye level for most people. This is because people usually look for the classroom number and other information on the wall when trying to locate a classroom, and they pay more attention to the wall than the floor.

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