Knowing your desired destination is only part of the journey it takes to arrive there. Wayfinding is a complex, multi-faceted, and adaptable methodology we use anytime we take in our surroundings and figure out where to go. But what is wayfinding, and how does wayfinding work?
Click here to get more.
While the term may conjure images of a master navigator pulling out a sextant on the deck of a ship to deftly maneuver the choppy waves and ferocious storms of the Pacific, modern wayfinding includes fewer sails and more touchscreens, kiosks, and signage systems.
When you hope to improve the visitor experience in a physical space and guide people along their way, consideration of wayfinding design is key.
Today, many of us can&#;t imagine navigating even well-marked highways without the benefit of an ever-present GPS. Long before a friendly voice chimed turn-by-turn directions from our phones&#;even long before the invention of the compass&#;Pacific Islanders turned to the stars and the signs from nature on Earth to guide them across the open ocean.
Today, this wayfinding legacy is being revived among the people of Hawaii. Nainoa Thompson led this revival and set forth a path of knowledge-building about traditional techniques and skills. Under this historical training, the Hokule&#;a, a Polynesian voyaging canoe, completed a 47,000-mile voyage over three and a half years. This feat was celebrated by a massive crowd when the ship returned to its homeport in Honolulu, Hawaii, in .
But what does this history have to do with digital wayfinding and modern-day business acumen? It helps us to understand that no matter how advanced the tools and gadgets get, good wayfinding has its core in tradition, connection, and the human desire for progress.
These same principles from thousands of years ago should underpin your decisions about how to guide people through your space. Give them the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make their way.
Following the original Polynesian wayfinding methods, the next two millennia saw the introduction of aids like road signs and cross-national signage conventions. But it wasn&#;t until the age of technology that everything began to change more rapidly:
That leads us to where we are today: a connected world in which wayfinding is constantly with us. No matter where you are, your smartphone can get you where you need to go. Behind that is a complex digital and data-based process, and we&#;re only scratching the surface of possibilities for businesses.
Any business with a physical space and a concern for a positive customer experience will benefit from deeper consideration of wayfinding. Spaces that include more than one building, multiple floors, corridors of hallways, several practitioners or business fronts, or any other physical barrier to clear navigation must provide clear instructions to avoid confusion and frustration.
How does wayfinding work in digital terms? Most digital wayfinding begins with a clear understanding of one&#;s own location. Orientation of the world around us starts from our own position, and digital tools allow us to pinpoint exact positioning with accuracy and precision.
People set their wayfinding goals in multiple ways. Perhaps they&#;re trying to get to a specific, known location. But they might also be trying to find a specific person, a particular service, or a destination based on a general topic. Digital wayfinding solutions that offer multiple ways of identifying one&#;s destination are flexible and customizable.
The movement from point A to point B is at the core of all wayfinding experiences, and digital solutions allow for personalized routing that accommodates things like accessibility needs.
Conditions change. The best route from last week may no longer work when a construction project blocks the way. A great path in fair weather might be undesirable when the temperatures drop. So using digital solutions can provide up-to-date routes that adjust to the conditions.
We&#;ve seen modern wayfinding take shape in surprising and innovative ways. For example, the mobile mapping app Waze has brought increased walk-in traffic to retailers. Also, New York City&#;s Metropolitan Museum of Art has enhanced the visitor experience through automated tours using digital indoor mapping software. Amazon has applied wayfinding principles to robots in order to automate fulfillment tasks at its warehouses.
Clearly, wayfinding has broadened in scope and application as our world has become more complex.
zigo Product Page
The specific needs of a wayfinding system will vary. You&#;ll need to spend time thinking about and researching your users&#; specific requirements, but there are some essential features modern wayfinders will appreciate. When you&#;re asking yourself, &#;How does wayfinding work for my organization&#;s needs?&#; think about these critical components.
A person seeking wayfinding assistance needs clarity and convenience. So the system should have an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows users with different needs to easily find the information they&#;re looking for.
Outdated information isn&#;t helpful to those trying to find their way. So the system needs real-time updates that are dependable.
Conflicting information and gaps in signage lead to confusion. Clear digital signage consistent with the wayfinding system is key. The best signs will automatically update as new information is put into the system.
Most users probably used turn-by-turn navigation from a GPS system to make it to the building. They&#;ll expect (and appreciate) that same level of convenience and clarity once they&#;re inside.
Allowing users to customize their experience and plan the key components of their route connects autonomy with clarity.
When you have a separate, optimized route for wheelchair accessibility, users who have accessibility needs can easily navigate the physical space.
When interior directions are seamlessly integrated with systems that give driving directions (such as Google Maps), users can continue on their wayfinding experience from their own front doors all the way to their final destination without any interruptions.
Another way to ask this question is, &#;How does wayfinding work well?&#; Designing an effective wayfinding system starts with having the tools to handle the technicalities. It also requires a user-facing design that puts the results in the hands of your users. Integrating your system to include digital interfaces, touchscreen displays, a clear signage system, user customization, and automatic updates will provide the best user experience.
Partnering with an experienced, attentive organization like Concept3D allows you to design a modern, effective, and adaptive digital wayfinding system.
People have always needed to find their way, so understanding the basics of &#;how does wayfinding work?&#; can help you provide users with tools that make wayfinding simple and effective is a tangible business advantage. Digital solutions allow optimal user experiences, resulting in higher profits, more customer satisfaction, and deeper connections with visitors.
Shopping malls with excellent digital wayfinding solutions will attract customers who can easily map out their ideal visit. Healthcare systems will be able to provide comfort and familiarity to users who need care quickly. Forklift operators (whether human or robot) will be able to fill orders faster. After all, they&#;ll have clear instructions on where to find products.
People who get lost, confused, or frustrated are a challenge for your bottom line, but wayfinding allows business owners and customers easy ways to reach their destinations.
So, how does wayfinding work? Any way you need it to! Get started in designing your digital wayfinding solutions with Concept3D today.
Effortlessly create, manage, and display digital signage with our platform. All you need to get started is the right hardware, an internet connection, and a ScreenCloud account.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Wayfinding Solutions. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.