Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

197 Wayfinding

The process of using spatial and environmental information to navigate to a destination.

Whether navigating a college campus, the wilds of a forest, or a website, people use spatial and environmental information to aid navigation. This is known as wayfinding.1

The basic process of wayfinding involves four stages:

1. Orientation — Determining one’s location relative to nearby objects and the destination. To improve orientation, divide a space into distinct small parts, using landmarks and signage to create unique subspaces. Landmarks provide strong orientation cues and provide locations with memorable identities. Support orientation using clearly identifiable “you are here” landmarks and signs.
2. Route decision — Choosing a route ...