Although you may not realize it, wayfinding signage is a constant fixture in our everyday lives, guiding us to where we need to go. Today, we will look at what wayfinding signage is and how it can be effectively used to teach new visitors about a location and how to quickly familiarize themselves with the area.
Wayfinding signage is any signage that helps direct individuals around and within a business, institution, or other physical destination. Its purpose is to guide visitors from one point to another via simple visuals. At its most basic, wayfinding signage needs to be both visually attractive and easy to understand for all users.
No one likes getting lost, and navigating complex environments such as transportation facilities, healthcare settings and educational campuses can be stress-inducing while wasting people’s time. Wayfinding signage assists with this issue by:
Wayfinding signage comes in many different forms, and is categorized by its intended purpose and design:
Identification wayfinding needs to be easy to see and understand at a glance. Its purpose is to guide individuals to their destination quickly and easily. For example, suppose an individual is visiting a city’s historic district for the first time. In that case, wayfinding kiosks and signs will help them identify their current location and provide directions to where they need to be.
Examples of identification wayfinding signage include:
Regulatory wayfinding signage is designed to set boundaries and ensure the safety of all individuals, so ensuring it can be universally understood is key. Its primary function is to establish and reinforce safety standards and enforce privacy rules, so it’s generally bold, bright, and easy to see and understand, even if someone doesn’t speak the language on the sign.
Examples of regulatory wayfinding signage include:
Directional signage helps individuals get from place to place via bold graphics and short, simple wording. Its purpose is to steer foot and vehicular traffic to and through various destinations to prevent clutter and congestion. For example, a sign will direct visitors along a given path; the individual follows the path to arrive at their destination.
Examples of directional wayfinding include:
Informational wayfinding signage is designed to provide information about an area such as a lobby or waiting room, as well as the environment around it. It should be able to answer common questions such as “Where is the bathroom?”, “Where is the elevator?”, “How late is this store open?”, or “Is there free Wi-Fi?”
Typical examples of informational wayfinding signage include:
Wayfinding signage should be designed as simply as possible while still being noticeable and easily understandable. Core components of effective wayfinding include:
Unique designs are key to effective signage as they will need to compete with many other visual signals for attention. Therefore, effective wayfinding signage must be distinct and easily noticed when placed alongside other signs. A stop sign is a good example of wayfinding design that is unique and nearly universally recognizable. It stands out even when placed in busy intersections alongside other signage.
Taking into consideration the sightlines of the environment in which the signs will be placed will help ensure that signage is easy to see and identify by the intended audience, and not blocked by buildings, trees, or even other signs.
Signs need to be located at intersections or “decision points.” By placing signs at these important junctures, users are able to confirm that they are still on the correct path to a given destination Freeway signs are examples of decision points, with these signs displayed prominently on the freeway or interstate to indicate how far an individual is from a given city or exit.
Landmarks provide a way to help users navigate an area without adding manmade signage into the environment. Unique trees, buildings, statues and parks are all examples of landmarks that can be used to help individuals orient themselves in a new environment.
Signage needs to be clear and concise without any complicated designs that may overwhelm or confuse the user. Transportation signs provide a clear example of this design philosophy, including subway schedule signs; freeway exit signs; and bus stop signage.
In short, wayfinding signage is intended to help individuals make their way to a given location. With proper wayfinding signage, new visitors can breathe easy and navigate new locations with ease.
Although you may not realize it, wayfinding signage is a constant fixture in our everyday lives, guiding us to where we need to go. Today, we will look at what wayfinding signage is and how it can be effectively used to teach new visitors about a location and how to quickly familiarize themselves with the area.
Digital signage is important in many industries. From medical to food service, to retail and even corporate life, digital signage provides an invaluable service by providing information, helping to avoid conference room scheduling conflicts, displaying menu options and much more.
Digital signage is the use of electronic display technologies like LCD, LED, projection and e-paper to display digital images, video, web pages, weather data, restaurant menus and other information. They are used to keep visitors informed, and also to strengthen awareness of brands.
While digital signage can require an investment up front, over the long term, it is much more cost efficient than traditional signage as it is extremely flexible and adaptable for various situations and needs.
Digital signage is important as it can help boost brand awareness in a more subtle way than static signage, while also providing a beneficial service to the end customer. Information can be displayed in a wide array of formats, including interactive, touchscreen formats. Digital signage also allows businesses to customize messages to more effectively reach specific audiences, based on time of year or even time of day, which can help increase customer retention and satisfaction.
Finally, digital signage can also lead to increases in revenue by allowing multiple ads, promotions, and product highlights to be displayed in one place. Because of its digital format, electronic signage’s messaging can be updated quickly, easily and remotely, without having to physically change out a traditional printed sign.
The primary benefit to digital signage is to communicate information in a way that can be easily seen and accessed by end users. The displays and screens easily display weather, sports updates, news, traffic, and important emergency updates. As the displays are digital, all information can be updated quickly and as often as desired, without having to change out a physical sign.
Digital signage displays are a great way to entertain while also providing useful information. Since these digital displays share some of their functionality with large televisions, videos, advertisements, and even interactive games can be played on them, helping to attract eyes and ears. These are often installed in indoor malls.
Retail digital signage is used to communicate sales, announce product releases that are new or coming soon, and display information about the brand, store or specific items. Some retail digital signage displays also have a self-checkout feature, allowing for easier and more convenient purchases for customers.
Since these displays are digital, they also allow for real-time inventory checks so that shoppers can easily locate a specific item. You can find examples of these in malls and big box retailers.
Corporate organizations utilize digital signage for wayfinding solutions, personnel and office directories, conference room coordination, and company-wide communication. Signs and displays ensure that employees and visitors always know exactly where they are within a building or business campus, saving them time and stress.
Meeting room bookings are handled through small digital signage displays, ensuring that there are no scheduling conflicts. Finally, digital signs can be used to alert employees to important company-wide messages, including emergencies such as lockdowns or inclement weather.
Healthcare institutions use digital signage to greet patients and visitors, as well as direct them to service areas and doctor’s offices. Many hospitals have digital directories either to help locate various departments and personnel. Digital signage can also act as a wayfinding point to help navigate hospital buildings or campuses in addition to assisting displaying wait times for the emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
Digital signage has become an integral part of foodservice operations by providing digital menu boards in quick service restaurants (QSRs), grocery stores, and theme parks concession stands and cafes. These displays can promote specific menu items based on time of day, highlight specials and allow for self-check-out functions as well. In addition to advertising promotions, they also keep guests safe through no-contact purchasing and are often much more efficient than traditional purchasing methods.
Outdoor digital signage is beneficial for brand awareness, transportation centers, fast-food drive-thrus, and even to display public health communications during emergency situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. These are commonly seen in bus shelters, outdoor malls, public transit stations and as digital billboards.
Since these displays are typically large and well-lit, they can also be used to promote various brands and businesses, increasing their ROI, while being easily recognizable and attractive. They are also useful for displaying bus, train, and other public transportation schedules.
Digital signage can be a useful addition to many different types of businesses, whether used to increase brand awareness, communicate information, or provide wayfinding assistance, allowing organizations of all sizes to consistently provide their customers with the best service possible.
Hospitals, especially those with multiple buildings spread over larger campuses, can often be frustrating to navigate. Hospitals that utilize wayfinding systems are generally much simpler and less stressful to navigate for both patients and visitors. Today, we will be discussing how well-designed wayfinding systems can benefit hospitals, patients and visitors.
A wayfinding system is designed to guide individuals from one space to another as efficiently as possible. In the case of a hospital system, this means helping patients and visitors get from one area of a hospital building to another -- e.g. the cafeteria to the gift shop -- or from different buildings spread over a larger hospital campus. A wayfinding system is meant to familiarize users with their surroundings with the goal of making subsequent visits easier.
Hospitals are notoriously busy places that see heavy foot traffic on a daily basis. Effective wayfinding systems are excellent tools to help keep hospitals running smoothly by allowing patients and visitors to easily navigate their environment on their own during what is often a stressful time.
Ultimately, wayfinding can provide these benefits for hospitals:
Well-designed wayfinding systems are intuitive enough for the vast majority of individuals to easily use. In the case of hospital buildings or campuses, this makes it easier on patients and visitors as they are less likely to end up frustrated while trying to figure out where they need to be. A properly executed wayfinding system ensures that users always know exactly where they need to go and how to get there, helping them to stay calm.
Time is a limited resource for all, but it is an especially crucial aspect of hospital operations, especially when a few minutes can mean the difference between life or death. Wayfinding saves both patients, visitors and staff time by allowing them to navigate the hospital faster and easier without getting lost.
Wayfinding allows visitors to get where they need to be without requiring assistance. This frees up staff for more urgent tasks. As stated before, having proper wayfinding also keeps patients calm, making it easier and less stressful for the hospital staff to do their jobs effectively.
Almost all hospitals utilize some form of wayfinding, although the type of wayfinding employed tends to depend on several factors, including the hospital’s size and scale. However, as Baby Boomers age, hospitals are only becoming more congested and overcrowded, requiring the expansion and addition of their facilities. This, in turn, creates additional issues around navigation, both during and post-construction, which shines an even brighter light on the importance of implementing intuitive, useful wayfinding systems. Below are some examples on how wayfinding can be improved for the benefit of patients, visitors, and the hospital systems themselves.
Digital information kiosks can benefit hospitals in two ways: they can provide digital maps to assist with wayfinding and also help provide more in-depth information about the hospital facility itself. Directory kiosks are available in nearly every hospital -- digital or not -- and help to locate specific rooms, services, departments or individuals. However, many hospitals are now moving to digital self-service kiosks with broader functionality in order to increase visitor and patient satisfaction, while freeing up staff.
Along with digital information kiosks, physical and digital signage also plays a crucial part in hospital wayfinding. Both can be used to display hospital information, as well as assist patients and visitors in distinguishing between the many different buildings, areas and departments of a hospital campus. Another example of how hospitals employ digital signage is via waiting room boards which inform patients when their turn to be called back is coming up. These are especially common in urgent care and emergency room environments.
At its core, wayfinding is the use of visual cues to help differentiate areas of a given environment for the purposes of simplified navigation. This is accomplished with structured pathways which can include the creative use of colors, unique lighting, or symbols. Structured pathways in many hospitals tend to be simple and use clear symbols such as arrows to keep patients and visitors on the right path. Hospitals also use unique colors to distinguish each ward or wing of the hospital, such as urgent care or pediatrics. Improving hospital wayfinding can be as simple as updating colors and symbols so that pathways are more clearly identifiable and intuitive for users.
An often overlooked aspect that applies to all wayfinding is the use of clear sightlines. Hospitals should consider designing hospital corridors, walkways and pedestrian bridges in much the same way as city streets are planned, providing visual cues within reasonable sightlines of those navigating the buildings. Many hospitals, especially older facilities, were not built to optimize sightlines and therefore provide visitors with an easy path to follow. This can be a fairly simple way to update hospital wayfinding. Placing signs for different locations within clear sightlines helps ensure that patients and visitors can make quicker and better-informed decisions regarding how best to get to their next destination.
Although it may sound counter-intuitive, limiting navigational choices makes it much easier for most visitors to get where they need to go. Often times, hospitals provide multiple pathways to the same area, but this can create confusion for the user. Limiting navigational options means there is one path for a person to take, allowing for more effective, simplified guidance of the individual within and between facilities.
Wayfinding apps have become popular enough that some larger hospital systems are adopting mobile technology to help users navigate their facilities. These apps are customized in order to provide detailed layouts of the hospital campus and even surrounding areas, and often integrate with real-time GPS navigation. This helps ensure visitors are able to locate any department or employee without having to endure the frustration and stress of becoming lost.
As digital wayfinding continues to grow in popularity, more hospitals are adopting this technology. When utilized along with proper wayfinding design, hospitals will become much easier places to navigate, increasing patient and guest satisfaction via a more positive end-user experience.
Wayfinding strategy is the consistent utilization of a set of standard principles in order to help users orient themselves while navigating a given area. This is accomplished via visual cues, including maps, colors, signage, and symbols, with the end result being a safe and easy-to-follow pathway that is usable for the vast majority of individuals. A solid wayfinding strategy should be as simple and intuitive as possible.
Developing and consistently utilizing a standard wayfinding strategy is important, and there are many factors to consider when beginning to design a wayfinding system. For instance, it is important to understand that you can’t always accomplish everything you want, so the prioritization of certain aspects of a given wayfinding route will be necessary and should be completed at the very start of the project. This will ultimately help focus the project and is often the first step towards creating a well-structured wayfinding path.
arrival signs
As mentioned previously, there are a few factors to consider when creating a wayfinding path. The end user should always be the priority, so understanding who will be utilizing the path to navigate, including their needs and behavior, is essential for creating an efficient route. These are outlined below:
Understanding the user is the most crucial aspect of any wayfinding strategy. Even if a route is created that seems as though it should work well, if the majority of visitors have difficulties, then the route is worthless. Collecting and studying data on problem areas in the route is crucial so that the issues being regularly encountered can be identified and fixed. This may mean eliminating choice so that individuals have fewer options available other than the path dictated by the wayfinding system, allowing for more influence and control over future user pathing.
Wayfinding isn’t just about helping users get from one location to another. Helping to familiarize and orient them within a new environment is another crucial aspect, so helping them identify exactly where they are is a priority. Using a marker as simple as a symbol or sign is completely acceptable, but it is important that a distinction is created between different areas so that repeat visits are easier on the user as they learn to navigate on their own. A successful wayfinding strategy influences not only the first visit but subsequent visits as well.
Creating the pathway isn’t enough, as signage, displays, colors and symbols do not have the same impact on every user. If it is possible, research in advance which is likely to be most effective for the particular navigational use case for which the wayfinding system is being designed. Sometimes signage and displays just aren't effective, but color is more so. There is often a degree of trial and error at this stage, but it’s important to know what users respond to best in the given environment.
No matter how seemingly mundane or insignificant it might seem, all research findings from the initial stages of wayfinding strategy development should be recorded. Documentation can help lead to better insight on what changes or improvements should be made to the wayfinding system and route. And if the route proves to be effective over time, it can also provide valuable information to illustrate the wayfinding system’s core design, so that others may be able to utilize the same or a similar design concept.
A good wayfinding strategy consists of 7 major principles: Visibility, Decision points, Lighting, Clustering, Pathing, Landmarks, Limited User Navigation, Intuitive Design, and Consistency.
First and foremost, the wayfinding path needs to be plainly visible and easy to spot from a distance. Good wayfinding typically works with the environment and not against it, providing guidance in a subtle way. However, there are always situations where subtlety is not the right solution. If it turns out that bright colors, larger signs, and obvious markers are required to assist users in navigating an area, then ultimately, that is the right choice for the environment.
In wayfinding, an intersection or crossroad is typically described as a decision point. This is where a choice must be made, and the user will need to decide whether to go down one path or another. A good wayfinding design strategy provides adequate information for each option, so that the user can make an informed decision when they reach a crossroad.
Adequate lighting is an important aspect of any wayfinding strategy as it is what allows the path to be visible in indoor areas that do not or cannot receive natural light, or must be navigated indoors or outdoors at night when sunlight isn’t available. Utilizing specific light colors or intensities can also help to distinguish various pathing choices. It is important that you create a sense of place and lighting is one of the most effective ways to do so.
Clustering is bound to happen in any visually competitive space. The idea behind clustering is that there are multiple signage displays competing for the user’s attention. This type of visual overload in a single area can make it difficult to discern a given pathway or understand information presented via blocks of text. While there are a few specific benefits to clustering -- including heavier foot traffic around and attention to whatever information is being presented as part of the “cluster” -- in general, clustering should be avoided as it can be inefficient and overwhelming to users.
Creating efficient, usable paths out of landmarks and man-made signs which individuals can use to navigate their environment is the primary end goal of any wayfinding strategy. The basis of wayfinding is creating a pathway out of a seemingly mundane set of locations. But multiple effective paths can absolutely be born out of a loose organization of landmarks. And once a user is familiar with the path, it becomes much easier for them to return to the same end location in the future.
The utilization of landmarks is a cornerstone of most wayfinding strategies. A landmark can be almost anything -- a sign post or fountain, or a natural landmark such as a large tree. The point of these is to create identifiable markers that can be seen from a distance, creating a sense of place while orienting the user. Landmarks also act as anchor points to link paths from one to another, ensuring that people always have a primarily navigational reference point to which they may return.
While there are situations where choice is good, this often isn’t the case with wayfinding. Limiting a user’s navigational options means presenting fewer paths to them so that their route is more tightly controlled. Fewer choices makes it more likely that a user will get where they need to be more quickly, as they will be less likely to end up side tracked or lost along the route.
Remember that allowing a user to intuitively navigate a space is usually more effective than an artificially constructed route. This means that the elements discussed previously should be employed in as intuitive a manner as possible even while using signage, colors, symbols and mapping that may not naturally occur in the environment. Intuitive design ultimately allows users to understand their space more quickly, and can make their directional sense in the space much stronger in the long term than something artificially constructed.
Your pathway should always be consistent. This can be accomplished in many different ways, including via a set graphic or color scheme, lighting, or signage, but the end goal is that the path should be easily recognizable even from a distance. This creates a sense of comfort and familiarity for the user making it easier and less stressful for them to navigate the path laid out for them by the overarching wayfinding strategy.
Digital wayfinding is becoming more common all the time with many organizations making the leap as they learn about its sizable benefits and very few drawbacks.
There are often times when digital wayfinding systems are more cost-effective than analog or physical wayfinding systems. Much of this has to do with how digital wayfinding systems are updated. Instead of having to physically print map updates and guides, or create new signs and repaint entire sections of road or walls, digital wayfinding systems are updated via software, which is generally done remotely. Once the software is purchased, most companies offer staff training so that updates can be made directly by the organization utilizing the system.
When it comes to navigating new places, end users have come to expect a simple, easy-to-use digital experience. With the popularization of smartphone apps like Waze and Google Maps, it is now simply the default. This expectation means that companies that fail to adopt digital wayfinding technology may find themselves facing negative user perception by appearing to be behind the times and unwilling to modernize.
Although wayfinding strategy in 2020 hasn’t changed greatly versus that of 2019, the technology behind these systems -- the kiosk software and hardware -- continues to improve by leaps and bounds. As the importance of wayfinding is unlikely to ever diminish, it is important for organizations to stay ahead of the curve by embracing digital wayfinding now in order to create and refine the best possible experiences for their users.
Wayfinding is a tool that helps people navigate between two or more points. What follows are the essential principles of wayfinding that will help increase understanding of the subject in order to create the best possible experience for all users.
Wayfinding is the act of finding your place from another location. Essentially, it is a long-form way of describing a system that is designed to assist someone with moving from one destination to another without getting lost. This is usually accomplished in modern times via digital services like Google Maps and Waze. But apps and software programs are simply a digital way to communicate information to users, as wayfinding itself is not inherently digital. Instead, it is simply a system that uses intelligent design to help the navigator get from point A to point B via landmarks, signage, colors, and other “analog” symbolism.
Wayfinding is valuable because it allows individuals to more easily and efficiently navigate unfamiliar spaces, making return trips easier and more pleasant for customers or visitors. And at its best, wayfinding creates an excellent opportunity for companies to create more immersive branding experiences.
The principles of wayfinding can be summed up in seven concepts:
Principle: Each location should have an identifying characteristic that sets it apart from all others. This allows the visitor to easily identify the location and orient themselves based on visual information. This is the core principle of wayfinding -- allowing a visitor to recover and re-orientate themselves on a given identifying marker.
Design Application: An identity can be obtained through various methods, including color schemes, unique textures, text styles or fonts. It is important to note that while your identifying marker must be easily recognizable, it faces the dual challenge of needing to be as unobtrusive as possible within the larger context of the environment.
Example: Multiple buildings on the same street appear to be identical, but a given building has a unique red sign.
Additional Example: In a parking garage, every aisle is nearly identical, which can create confusion. However, if every section of the garage is numbered, and each number is assigned a unique color, it makes it easier for visitors to remember the location of their car and therefore find it more quickly upon return.
Principle: Landmarks also serve an important function in wayfinding. If a navigator knows a specific landmark in relation to their larger environment, then they know their position and can navigate where to go next. Landmarks’ most important attribute is their visibility; for instance, almost everyone who lives in Manhattan would know exactly where a given building was located if described in relation to Rockafeller Center.
Design Application: Landmarks help organize and define a specific area or space. But it is important to use them sparingly as too many landmarks can create clutter and make a location less unique or identifiable. Landmarks can also be man-made with signage stands that create a point of reference for visitors seeking information.
Example: Museums often have unique displays that serve as both an exhibit and a landmark for navigating their premises. The large T-rex skeleton at the Natural History Museum in New York provides a landmark for wayfinding in addition to being an impressive display.
Principle: Paths should have a unique set of characteristics that set them apart. A well-structured path helps navigators to maintain their orientation, allowing them to move from landmark to landmark without getting lost.
Design Application: The beginning and end of the path should serve as the introduction to the route, with markers in between designating where to move next. This is exemplified by regularly-posted highway signs that display the distance to popular destinations so that the driver knows whether or not they are on the right path.
Example: Colleges and universities create destination signs so that students are always aware of where a specific building is, helping them to navigate the large campuses.
Principle: To assist with wayfinding in a large area, the area should be subdivided into smaller, easier to map out regions. Each region should have a set of visual attributes that define and set it apart from the others. There is no specific requirement regarding a region’s overall size; what’s most important is that each is unique.
Design Application: With the regions divided, it is easy for someone to move from one space to another as needed. In an airport, for example, each unique region uses different identifying colors, indicating where check-in, security and boarding take place. This provides a useful function while helping the visitor navigate the larger airport environment.
Example: In a museum, each section of the museum is painted with different colors and fonts to indicate changes in the exhibit. This serves the dual function of conveying the spirit of the exhibit being displayed, while also providing a wayfinding function that visually communicates to the visitor that they are entering a different part of the museum.
Principle: It is important to restrict the navigator’s wayfinding choices as much as possible by displaying only the most pertinent information. While there may be multiple ways to get from place to place, the space should be designed that only 1 or 2 routes are listed and defined. Limiting user choice prevents confusion and allows them to orient themselves to their surroundings faster.
Design Application: This principle is important if you want the navigator to experience something specific along your path. By eliminating the option for detours and keeping them on a primary defined path, they are able to establish an understanding of the space faster.
Example: Most museums’ wayfinding design has been developed in a way that allows visitors to view all exhibits in a specific order, as part of a complete path. If they weren’t, visitors would easily get lost and miss entire exhibits.
Principle: Decision points occur in areas where the navigator must decide to either continue on their route or change direction. Signs at decision points help to provide more detailed information regarding what lies ahead on either path, helping to establish their own place while furthering the goal of getting them to their final destination.
Design Application: A sign should have navigational information that is authoritative and unambiguous. If the consequence of making a wrong turn may be negative for the visitor or there is insufficient information available at the decision point, a sign is necessary.
Example: At airports, it’s critical that people are able to move quickly and easily around the facility as the consequence of getting lost is potentially missing a flight. This means multiple signs are necessary for helping people get to where they need to go while communicating to them that they are on the right path.
Principle: Sightlines are important for establishing initial interest or a sense of place. Sightlines are not always reliable, but they can provide a visual representation of what is ahead, then helping to guide the visitor in that direction if they so desire.
Design Application: This principle is a popular alternative to a physical sign. By providing points of interest within sight lines, designers can guide a visitor through a suggested path by simply placing interesting elements within their line of sight.
Example: Museum designers may place a dinosaur skeleton or other large exhibit in an area that is easy to view from multiple locations. That allows the visitor to make a judgment based on that visual which can then draw them to that display without the need for a sign or path.
Wayfinding is the act of navigating within a single location, or between separate locations. Digital wayfinding allows navigation to be facilitated electronically via maps and digital routing, and is the next evolutionary step in directional assistance, popularized by apps such as Waze and Google Maps. These apps use external data to help guide users from one place to another, while providing them with the most efficient way of doing so.
Digital wayfinding via self-service kiosks allows organizations to take the concept of electronics-assisted navigation once only used in vehicles, and apply it to a range of environments, including corporate offices, hospital campuses, museums, and shopping malls. This ensures that employees, visitors and guests are able to easily find their way within and between various points of interest in any given area.
Digital wayfinding utilizes displays -- usually touchscreen -- to showcase information that can be used for directional support. These displays may be in the form of large freestanding kiosks or wall-mounted signage, or instead on tablets and smartphones. Large-scale kiosks and displays are utilized to present broadly-relevant information in full view of as many people as possible, while smaller, personal displays are used by individuals for more specific types of wayfinding.
A wayfinding system refers to a framework -- digital or analog -- designed to assist end-users in locating people or places. The idea is two-fold: the objective is to provide assistance to users by providing an easy-to-follow guide, while also helping the same individuals to become more familiar with their surrounding area. This is normally achieved through the use of arrows or color indicators to help create familiarity with a given environment. In addition to color association, there are often signs and arrows to help guide users through an area that are similar in many respects to road signs. The purpose of wayfinding is to not only to direct guests and visitors efficiently to a destination but to help them return to it easier in the future should they be required to do so
Access to digital wayfinding is fast becoming an expectation rather than an exception across multiple industries, and organizations can use this to their advantage. From greater consumer engagement to increased customer satisfaction, providing digital wayfinding assistance can result in benefits that one would be hard-pressed to ignore.
Digital wayfinding systems are quickly becoming a part of the fabric of consumer culture. Whether they are assisting with navigation on college campuses, within shopping malls or in airports, digital wayfinding kiosks make it easy for everyone to find exactly what they need, and where they need to go.
RedyRef has completed the installation of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)’s first interactive wayfinding kiosk in Manatee County, Florida. The installation features the new enGAGE H-Series, a 42” modular touchscreen kiosk that was designed to help travelers find any location within the airport’s footprint. This includes airport gates, restaurants, restrooms, baggage claim and any other services airport visitors may need.
The Sarasota project presented some unique challenges for our design team. One of the primary requirements of the solution was to ensure users did not have to search via keyword or click through multiple screens in order to find the needed information.
REDYREF's team of developers rose to the occasion, designing a deceptively simple user interface capable of effectively housing and organizing many layers of complex information. This one-screen solution features a navigation menu on the left, and a map of the airport on the right, which allows users to simply select an area on the menu with a single touch, and immediately see the chosen area highlighted on the map along with their current airport location.
The kiosk is also easy to maintain by airport employees. Said REDYREF Managing Partner, Will Pymm, “Besides offering travelers an enhanced customer experience, Sarasota’s new wayfinding kiosk was designed to be easily updated or refreshed either via smartphone or computer. We believe this kind of functionality is essential to the success of a kiosk in a busy, at times even chaotic environment, like that found in an international airport.”
Besides its intuitive UI, the new Sarasota airport kiosk is also one of the first live deployments of the REDYREF enGAGE H-Series kiosk. This modular, freestanding enclosure combines sleek, powder-coated steel construction with an extensive range of available options including an expansive array of other hardware components and integrations. Although the H-Series comes standard with a 42″ LCD monitor, it may be built with other display sizes when required.
Considering wayfinding kiosks or digital directories for your company?
Contact REDYREF today at (800) 628-3603 today or request a quote online and we’ll be with you every step of the way to ensure that your interactive kiosk, wayfinding or digital visitor management program meets every one of your business’ unique needs and goals.
Digital wayfinding isn’t showing any signs of slowing down across almost every industry and environment. With cutting-edge technologies being almost constantly introduced, opportunities to upgrade to better and more advanced integrations seem to be everywhere. So what’s next in interactive wayfinding in 2023 and beyond? We started to discuss the latest trends last week, and today, we'll finish up. Let’s find out more!
In our last blog, we talked a little about the ways in which big data is making its way into interactive wayfinding kiosks. So it stands to reason that the data being collected might be valuable in a number of different situations to both the company deploying the kiosk, and the kiosk manufacturer, as well. Utilizing behavioral analytics to better understand how and for what end users are searching allows companies to create both a better UX and more personalized results for their intended audience. Analytics can also enhance users’ experiences beyond the wayfinding kiosk and into their environments. When the data collected is used to make the physical wayfinding experience away from the kiosk easier to navigate — whether in a shopping mall or on a college campus — the guest’s or visitor’s overall impression of their environment is more likely to be positive.
While the focus is often on wayfinding hardware — the physical kiosk — consumers are now looking for ways to take the kiosk wayfinding experience with them on the go. That’s where mobile apps for wayfinding come into play. As end users become ever-more technologically savvy, it’s important to stay ahead of their demands for this type of UX across devices and platforms, including smartphones, tablets and wearable technologies like the Apple Watch. In fact, this is one reason why REDYREF ultimately developed an end-to-end mentality for our kiosk solutions. Having the capabilities to create wayfinding solutions from the ground up, including custom software integrations, is what sets us apart from our competitors. Whether our customers want to give their visitors or guests mobile walking directions, maps or specific location-driven content (such as coupons), we can make it happen — and design, build and even deploy the kiosk at the same time.
Is your business ready for what’s next in interactive wayfinding? As an end-to-end manufacturer of vertically integrated self-service kiosk solutions, we invite you to submit a request for proposal online or call (800) 628-3603 today to find out how REDYREF can help you give your customers a best-in-class, digital wayfinding experience.
As we move through 2023, interest and investment in interactive wayfinding don’t appear to show any sign of slowing. In fact, trends continue to pop up in this kiosk category all the time, especially post-COVID, which is why we’re making them the focus of our blog this week. So what’s next in wayfinding and building directories? Let’s find out.
The ability to track consumer behavior has always been desirable and the dawn of the internet made it easier than ever to do exactly that. And now wayfinding software is making it possible to find out now just how customers are using the device (usability tracking), but to get a glimpse of what kinds of information they are seeking out with its use, enabling those collecting the data to keep information provided relevant and fresh. For example, let’s say that a large education expo was scheduled for a college campus.
Wayfinding kiosks are, of course, useful for getting directions and locating conference rooms for different workshops and such. But new advances in wayfinding kiosk software now allow for a much broader array of information to be searched and communicated. Besides finding the fastest way to point A from point B, wayfinding kiosks can now be integrated with database feeds that feature everything from live event streams to emergency alert system notifications to point-of-sale programs that accept donor contributions to a given organization.
Remember when offering an interactive map was considered cutting-edge? Not anymore. Enter 3D mapping. In a consumer world that is becoming ever more comfortable with the idea of virtual and augmented reality, creating a fully immersive experience for customers will at some point in the near future be not just an interesting feature, but a mandatory part of the overall UX. Whether it’s via an interactive 360-degree panorama, live webcam, or fly-over simulation, 3D mapping is not just the wave of the future, but the current reality for those developing wayfinding kiosks for deployment in the next 6-12 months.
Looking for more wayfinding trends? Come back next week as we explore this idea further. And if you happen to be ready to dive into the deep end of interactive wayfinding now, RedyRef is here to ensure that your company’s kiosk program is a success. As an end-to-end manufacturer of vertically integrated self-service kiosk solutions, we invite you to submit a request for proposal online or call (800) 628-3603 today to find out how we can help you give your customers a best-in-class wayfinding experience.
Both interactive and static digital wayfinding solutions have found homes in almost every area of industry. Although commonly part of the conversation in retail and business environments, the public sector is also making a strong case for these types of use cases as well. This week, we’ll take a look at some of the interesting ways touch and non-touch wayfinding technologies are being deployed in military domains.
Anyone who has ever visited or lived on an American military base understands that to say that they are large would be an incredible understatement. To illustrate the incredible size take a look at this short list of some of the largest bases in the US:
It’s easy to see how digital wayfinding and signage would play an important part in keeping military bases running smoothly. This is especially true when you consider that some, like those above, have populations that are more than 10x the size of the average American town (pop. 20,000).
Larrabee family, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
So how does the military utilize digital technologies to simplify life on base? One is to streamline communications. Much like in an actual city, there are events, meetings and initiatives that need to be shared with both individuals and departments on a macro level. That type of information is more general and can be pushed out from a central location and easily changed, even multiple times per day.
Then there is information that needs to be customized for different areas of the base and for different audiences. Military bases are home to not just active-duty soldiers, but also their families and often retirees. They also employ thousands of civilians to carry out all of the many duties that must be taken care of on a daily basis, from PX staff to IT professionals. Each segment of the population -- even for those that do not live on base -- can be easily and appropriately messaged based on their status, role and location. The military also utilizes digital signage for emergency messaging to help keep their population safe. Because this type of signage can be so quickly changed out, it is easy to keep an audience of almost any size actively informed about any issues that may arise.
Interactive wayfinding can play a critical part in making life on base easier, especially for the thousands of visitors that regularly come through for reasons such as supplies delivery or specialized training. With hundreds of square miles to navigate and what likely feels like countless (seemingly identical!) buildings spread out over that area, it is imperative that negotiating that space is made as efficient as possible -- especially in case of an emergency.
Ready to make the leap into high-tech digital signage or interactive wayfinding kiosks? Our experts are available to assist government and military agencies of all sizes in developing a program that fits their specific needs; just give us a call at (800) 628-3603 ext 525 or submit a request for proposal online and our team will be with you every step of the way.
