Studio Brief 1- Wayfinding - A Sense of Direction or a Direction of Sense? - Research

A Sense of Direction or a Direction of Sense?

Grids can inform layout and direct us as we interpret a space, helping different cells we create different markers  us to navigate within a space. Our brains think and understand a space rather than just feel it.

There are four different types of cells:

- Grid cells graph an area from an hexagonal pattern.                                                                        

- Place cells help us to understand where we are in relationship to field signals e.g. landmarks.                                                                      

- Head direction cells allow us to understand our bearings even when moving in different directions, this works as an internal compass.

- Border cells create an outline of an area and define the endpoints of an area or space.

Due to different cells, we create different markers, making us visualise them in particular ways e.g. place cells make landmarks, border cells make edges, head direction cells create paths and grid cells create areas.

- Spatial knowledge is broken down into landmark knowledge, route knowledge and survey knowledge. A point could represent a landmark knowledge, a line could represent a route knowledge and a plane could represent survey knowledge.

- Landmark knowledge denotes the place associated with the object. Route knowledge orders different locations. 

- Survey knowledge concerns distances and connections to form a map of knowledge.

There is a hierarchy of spatial knowledge:

-        Landmark knowledge

-        Route knowledge

-        Survey Knowledge – which brings all the different types of knowledge together. This is created when we are most familiar with a place and needs the greatest amount of time to compile.

Different factors can influence a viewer’s understanding/ experience of wayfinding, so these should be taken into consideration.

- Typography changes at different angles and distances               

- 50% of people visualise things aerially.

- By providing a range of wayfinding strategies it makes wayfinding more accessible for a range of viewers. Can we change the way we visualise distance by making it more literal and physical? By using multiple perspectives can this create better understanding of a space? Can landmarks be created using signs as placers?