Wayfinding

Amanda Massengale
Mar 8, 2019
4 min read

Wayfinding is an informational system created to guide people throughout an environment. Wayfinding helps users of a space know where they are currently located, where their desired location is, and how to get there. As buildings grow in size and become more complicated, it is important to implement wayfinding tools such as maps, directional cues, and symbols to help guide them throughout the space. In high-stress environments such as health care facilities, educational campuses, and urban centers, wayfinding can contribute to well-being, safety, and security. Specifically, in healthcare it is not uncommon for wayfinding to be easy-to-follow signage with large, legible directions in the form of colors and symbols, minimizing the use of text (Roux, 2014). Wayfinding in dementia care communities is more than just understanding of how to get somewhere, but it also promotes self-sufficiency, comfort, and sense of security. Effective wayfinding methods can greatly reduce the sense of anxiety and responsive behaviors in those with dementia (Wayfinding, 2013).

Solutions

Wayfinding could be as simple as the layout of the dementia care community. By implementing a simple, open floor plan without a repetitive design the chances of confusion are greatly decreased. Layouts should be straight and direct with limited change in direction to important destinations (Roux, 2014). Long corridors and multiple changes in direction can led to orientation confusion within a dementia resident. By paying attention to the proximity of important spaces such as the dining room, recreational spaces, and quiet areas, anxiety within a resident can be decreased and it promotes the use of each space. Hallways should be clutter-free with a clear, single end point. Hallway intersections should be minimized, instead hallways should be one continuous pathway with a visible ending (Wayfinding, 2013).

Landmarks should be incorporated to help with the recognition of the space or area they are in. Landmarks can also be used to identify orientation, and decision points where navigational choices need to be made, such as doorways, corners, intersections, and corridors. These landmarks could be distinctive architectural components, furniture, different colored walls, large room labels with unique names, clocks, artwork, etc. But, this also means repeating elements in multiple rooms should be avoided to prevent confusion. Tactile and audible landmarks are encouraged could help those with impairment, as well as symbols. Symbolic cues such as a cross on a worship area or a barber, red and white pole in front of the hair salon are familiar symbols that most residents would recognize without the need for written indications (Wayfinding, 2013).

Memory Boxes can be a symbolic wayfinding solution customized for each resident to identify their rooms. Though most rooms have an interchangeable sign with each resident’s name and room number, each sign is so similar that it does not signal whos room is whos as quickly as a personalized symbol. Memory boxes are a simple solution to this problem. Each box can be customized with photos, important objects, and symbolic items that trigger memories in each resident and ultimately help them identify a room as their own. Memory boxes should be clearly visible in the hallways but should not be a protruding object (Wayfinding, 2013).

Wayfinding and the ADA

When specifying wayfinding solutions it is important to understand the ADA guidelines. Important factors to consider include the following:

Finish and Contrast. Characters and the background should have a large contrast with very little glare to avoid confusion of residents.
Type and Characters. ALL characters should be in sans serif typsestyle in all uppercase lettering. For permanent room signs tactile characters must be a minimum of 5/8” and no larger than 2” in height with only 1/8” spacing between letters
Tactile Characters and Braille. Characters must be raised a minimum of 1/32” and accompanied with grade II braille in a dome shape.
Pictograms. Pictograms must have a background field of 6” and if they are accompanied by text, it must be placed directly below, not within the field.
Sign Positioning. Signs must be located on the latch side of the door when located near a room with a single door. Signs located next to a room with a double door should be located on the inactive leaf. Signs accompanying a double door with both active leafs, they should be located on the right side of the right active leaf. If in the case there is not enough wall space for correct signage, the sign may be located on an adjacent wall.
Tactile Signs. Required to be mounted so that the bottom of the raised characters is between 48" and 60" above the floor.
Overhead Signage. Suggested to have an 80"clearance from floor to bottom of sign.
Flag Mounted Signage. Suggested to have an 80" clearance from floor to bottom of sign if the projection from the wall is 4" or greater.
Directories and Directional. Visual characters suggested to be 40" minimum above finished floor ("Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)", 2017).