VIRTUAL London.

Abstract

View film

Wayfinding is traditionally considered a process of movement between two points, with the system serving as a tool to support it. Past studies have typically prioritized speed, accuracy, and efficiency. However, wayfinding systems, as a tool to support and assist the wayfinding process and a means to understand and experience the urban environment, have been overlooked. Therefore, there is a research gap to investigate the design methods of wayfinding systems to enhance people’s feelings and experience in the city centre, making urban spaces more liveable and accessible. To address this gap, this paper explores the design methods of place-based wayfinding systems. Manchester city centre was chosen as a research site, and cultural districts were selected as a context. Thirteen walking interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, while four workshops were undertaken with forty-four participants. From the data and results, a series of wayfinding images of diverse areas in Manchester city centre has been developed. Four elements emerged from these images: points, lines, planes, and timing. Various design methods corresponded to these four elements: signage, icon design, direction guide design and cartography. Those four elements and design methods form the primary outcome of this paper, which is a framework for wayfinding system design in urban environments.