For many museums wayfinding is much more than ensuring ease of access for visitors.
The National Trust’s Cliveden site recently used wayfinding to develop a consistent voice throughout its gardens and woodlands.
The typeface on signage was chosen to reflect the environment and language and tone of voice, iconography and colour were used to inject personality.
Cultural institutions need to be clear from the start about what they want a new wayfinding scheme to achieve.
Alex Wood and Lucy Holmes, founders and directors of design company Holmes Wood, shed light on how to create successful wayfinding for new builds and existing sites.
How should wayfinding be addressed on new builds and capital projects?
It needs to be considered as early as possible in the design process. A lot of clients are finally recognising the benefits of this and are getting wayfinding designers involved in time to help inform the architects’ proposals, improving layout and saving money on changes that may need to be implemented later in the process.
Our aim is to keep wayfinding to the minimum and if the architecture, interior design, lighting, floor surfaces and sound are all designed from the very beginning to help guide people intuitively, then everyone benefits.
What challenges do museums face when trying to improve wayfinding at existing sites?
Usually, the reason for re-looking at wayfinding is because there is a new brand that needs to be applied across all forms of communication and/or high levels of negative feedback from visitors and staff.
The cost of removing signs and planning how to implement a new wayfinding strategy without affecting the visitor experience are often overlooked in the creation of a new scheme.
We feel it is easier to create schemes for existing spaces and learn from past mistakes, but it is vital that the organisation and its staff are open to change.
How can these challenges be resolved?
Staff have to buy into change, whatever the reason for it, in order for it to be successful. This is why we suggest setting up a project delivery team made up of representatives from all departments, who can keep their own staff updated, involved and hopefully excited about the new scheme.
Not only does a wayfinding solution need to look great it also has to solve all the existing problems that it can. This means it is important to constantly refer back to the initial brief and findings to ensure that the solution is successful, both aesthetically and practically.
How can museums improve signage?
By getting into the mindset of their visitors. Museums need to work hard to decide what information people need and ensure that is reflected in easy to understand and precise content.
It is also important that any wayfinding strategy is consistent with the placement of signs and what is said where. Always make sure a sign is necessary. If it is, make it visible and different from all the other elements around it. And, of course, design the product and graphics beautifully.
Is it important for signage and wayfinding to be inspired/influenced by a museum's collections?
That is one approach. However, it can also be influenced by the architecture or express the institution’s brand.
Is there a danger of making people's passages through museums too easy?
No. Our philosophy is to create schemes that make people feel comfortable with a place, taking away hassle, frustration or bemusement and providing warmth, effortless understanding and congenial and distinctive experiences.
Individuals are allowed to explore as individuals, choosing where they want to go, what they want to do and how long they want to do it. Of course, the museum has a responsibility to make their exhibitions, objects and facilities compelling enough to make people want to stay.
What are three key things museums need to consider before embarking on a project to improve wayfinding?
Comprehensive brief, design expectations and budget.
The National Trust’s Cliveden site recently used wayfinding to develop a consistent voice throughout its gardens and woodlands.
The typeface on signage was chosen to reflect the environment and language and tone of voice, iconography and colour were used to inject personality.
Cultural institutions need to be clear from the start about what they want a new wayfinding scheme to achieve.
Alex Wood and Lucy Holmes, founders and directors of design company Holmes Wood, shed light on how to create successful wayfinding for new builds and existing sites.
How should wayfinding be addressed on new builds and capital projects?
It needs to be considered as early as possible in the design process. A lot of clients are finally recognising the benefits of this and are getting wayfinding designers involved in time to help inform the architects’ proposals, improving layout and saving money on changes that may need to be implemented later in the process.
Our aim is to keep wayfinding to the minimum and if the architecture, interior design, lighting, floor surfaces and sound are all designed from the very beginning to help guide people intuitively, then everyone benefits.
What challenges do museums face when trying to improve wayfinding at existing sites?
Usually, the reason for re-looking at wayfinding is because there is a new brand that needs to be applied across all forms of communication and/or high levels of negative feedback from visitors and staff.
The cost of removing signs and planning how to implement a new wayfinding strategy without affecting the visitor experience are often overlooked in the creation of a new scheme.
We feel it is easier to create schemes for existing spaces and learn from past mistakes, but it is vital that the organisation and its staff are open to change.
How can these challenges be resolved?
Staff have to buy into change, whatever the reason for it, in order for it to be successful. This is why we suggest setting up a project delivery team made up of representatives from all departments, who can keep their own staff updated, involved and hopefully excited about the new scheme.
Not only does a wayfinding solution need to look great it also has to solve all the existing problems that it can. This means it is important to constantly refer back to the initial brief and findings to ensure that the solution is successful, both aesthetically and practically.
How can museums improve signage?
By getting into the mindset of their visitors. Museums need to work hard to decide what information people need and ensure that is reflected in easy to understand and precise content.
It is also important that any wayfinding strategy is consistent with the placement of signs and what is said where. Always make sure a sign is necessary. If it is, make it visible and different from all the other elements around it. And, of course, design the product and graphics beautifully.
Is it important for signage and wayfinding to be inspired/influenced by a museum's collections?
That is one approach. However, it can also be influenced by the architecture or express the institution’s brand.
Is there a danger of making people's passages through museums too easy?
No. Our philosophy is to create schemes that make people feel comfortable with a place, taking away hassle, frustration or bemusement and providing warmth, effortless understanding and congenial and distinctive experiences.
Individuals are allowed to explore as individuals, choosing where they want to go, what they want to do and how long they want to do it. Of course, the museum has a responsibility to make their exhibitions, objects and facilities compelling enough to make people want to stay.
What are three key things museums need to consider before embarking on a project to improve wayfinding?
Comprehensive brief, design expectations and budget.