OUGD405: Wayfinding - Entry Signage

Liberty Park Entry Signage

21 / 01 / 16

Examples of way-finding systems I could take from..

This is an example of using the colour coding  I considered earlier, it is an effective system however aesthetically it isn't very pleasing or fitting with the Liberty Living concept I've got going on so I've scrapped this idea

I like the simplicity of this design through form and function. It doesn't over-complicate, but has simple pointer arrows and other pictograms to direct. It makes use of a map design focusing on simple lines and block colour to mark out areas. I could apply this idea to my Liberty Colour Scheme as it already makes use of a bright orange colour to highlight certain areas.

I found this design idea which approaches way-finding in a completely new and innovative way in comparison to other projects I have seen. It makes use of a 3Dimensional block which will free-stand in the reception area, providing numerous faces on the cuboid to point in numerous directions.
I love the clean, modernist style which again focuses on functionality and efficiency and I feel like I could adapt this idea to my wayfinding.

I could adapt the design by using the block as a lightbox, so at night time it still stands out as a piece of useful signage. I can apply the map idea onto the top of the block so it can be multi-functional, with two sides pointing towards the block of flats and the other pointing at the reception and its facilities. This is where I can begin to be experimental with pictograms to represent things within my signage, to really push the efficiency of the way-finding system.

 I sketched through how the block could work and took it to another crit session to see what response I would receive from my coursemates. I wanted feedback based on how I can present the Entry Signage in the most effective way making use of the layout of the already built reception. People highlighted how difficult it would be to physically explore this idea and the overall response was if it was present in an overall consistent decor then it could fit, but with my specific colour scheme it would look out of place. If I tried to adapt the idea to fit the poorly designed environment it would create drawbacks affecting the quality of my design and it would become inconsistent with the rest of the way-finding system I aim to produce. People encouraged me to explore the best locations that the entry signage would fit and allow the function to inspire the form (very modernist).
My only other options were to have signage above the door of the reception, which probably wouldn't fit and would barely get noticed anyway because of the inconvenience of the location...

Referencing the National Rail guide it does stress how signs need to be at a certain eye level to be most effectively/efficiently viewed. Based on the fact, that the majority walk between the passage above passed where the sign would be, this would not be a comfortable viewing point and would just cause congestion in that confined area outside the reception. 

This lead me to the idea of placing signage on the pillar that sits in the centre of reception, it would be the first thing you see when you enter Liberty Park, therefore proving to be the most useful location to place it.