WAYFINDING - Design Development

Fig.1

In response to my crit feedback, and the additional research I had done, I continued to develop the line patterns of my skylines. The relation between the ordinance survey 'public rights of way' and my project lead me into exploring similar dash-line line qualities (Fig.1). These design are successful because, unlike my previous ones, they contain a sense of uniformity and consistency through their subtle but noticeable difference in dash length and style. The audience would easily be able to differentiate between the different lines, or 'routes' of the system, as well as recognise that they are all part of the same system. This is the skyline design I decided to stick with.

Fig.2

In response to my crit feedback, 'I quickly explored adding distance markers to my way finding system. This would make the audience's experience of the system a lot more comfortable and easy, as they could be motivated to continue on the route, when the distance numbers are getting smaller, as well as being confident that they are going in the right direction.

Fig.3

Fig.3 is a final layout design of a starting point of the wayfinding system. During crit feedback it was suggested that i make the wayfinding system a temporary one, and as part of a festival happening in Leeds. Because of this, instead of having the system simply run from one location to another, it will have a starting point somewhere in the middle of city centre/or wherever the festival is taking place. This way, the audience will be clear on a starting point of all routes, as well as the direction in which to follow them. I called the wayfinding system "Cityline", as a play on words of "city" and "skyline". The locations are listed as longitude and latitude coordinates, this is so the locations are more of a mystery for the audience, and so it makes the journey of following the system more exciting. The sign would be placed on the ground, with the skyline patterns starting at their corresponding coordinates and running along the road in the direction of the locations.

Fig.4

Fig.4 is the final layout design for the main elements of the wayfinding system. As suggested by crit feedback, the layout of the system would be split into fragments. With a piece of the line patterns placed at appropriate intervals between the start and end of the route. These intervals would be turns into the next road, road crossings, or just confirmations of keeping straight on a long road. The pattern fragments will all contain distance markers, to let the audience know how far they have left to go, as well as to confirm for them that they have reached the correct next marker. Each line pattern is different according to my previously determined design decisions (Fig.1).

Fig.5

 Having considered objectivity vs subjectivity within my project, as well as my audience needs, I quickly looked at colour once again (Fig.5). As well as the different in line patterns, I gave each route a different colour. This was successful as it enhanced the differentiate between the routes, and also highlighted the architectural features of the skylines they were taken from. However, personal opinion turned the design process into subjective once again. Adding colour had stolen the spotlight from the line pattern design, and made it almost insignificant within the system as a whole. The audience would end up following the colour coding, and not paying any attention to the intricate line designs themselves.