S H E F F I E L D WAY- F I N D I N G S Y S T E M
THE WAY- F I N D I N G SYSTEM C i t y C e n t r e P u b l i c To i l e t s
Only nine of Sheffield’s public toilets remain compared to 29 that did nearly a decade ago. This publication documents the concept of a re-branded way-finding system throughout Sheffield City Centre. With focus on public toilets, the way-finding system aim is to catch attention and inform the public. The problem which lead to this project is due to many of Sheffield City Centre’s public A way-finding system to engage, toilets are closing as City councils invite and inform the public. aren’t legally obliged to provide public toilets and therefore it is often the first expenditure to be cut. This causes public confusion to which toilets remain open. Overall there is a lack of signage and the public are un-aware of the existing ones. This often results in non-customers using retail stores or fast food facilities and using all their supplies. However there are other reasons aswell as to why the public seek elsewhere. The un-inviting preconceptions deter people using public toilets, it is assumed that they are dirty and dingy and in result of this are avoided. The wayfinding systems objective is to create awareness and a brighter outlook on the existing public toilets. Achieved by developing a friendly tone of voice, visual langauge and colour scheme it will depict the research and development and final outcomes.
CONTENTS
RESEARCH 03 05 07
Un-inviting or Un-aware Public Questionnaire The Existing Maps
PROCESS 09 11
Directional Signage Designing the Symbols
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Building Icons
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Designing the Maps
OUTCOME 25 27
Mini-billboards Wayfinding Maps
UN-INVITING OR UN-AWARE The Heart of the City
Just nine of the city ‘s public loos remain in full use compared to 29 a decade ago. Spending a penny has become a tough task in Sheffield with most of the city’s public toilets sold, closed or knocked down in the last 10 years. Just nine of the city’s public loos remain in full use compared to 29 a decade ago, according to information obtained by The Star’s Your Right to Know campaign. Toilets on Fulwood Road, Broomhill, and Parkside Road, Hillsborough, are in the process of being sold while one at the entrance to the old Castle Market is also due to be removed.The rest – including the public toilets next to Sheffield Town Hall and the Pond Street superloo have been closed since 2004, with five being demolished. “It’s ridiculous trying to find a loo.” Sheffield people said the lack of loos has put them off visiting the city centre. Mum Natalie Nestor said:“It’s ridiculous trying to find a loo but if having ones we have to pay for is the only way to stop them being
vandalised then it’s better than nothing. It honestly does put me off going into the city centre with my two children.” Catherine Hart added: “You have to have a comprehensive knowledge of which pubs have loos you can get to without passing the bar.” David Forrest said: I ended up going into a shop when I needed one. The one I used to use shut down and the others shut – and they wonder why people don’t go into town.” Lynn Carnall, whose mum was a toilet attendant, said: “Sadly times change. Lots of people use Meadowhall and Crystal Peaks shopping centres where the toilets are free.” “It is sad our city centre cannot follow suit and make our city centre toilets somewhere people can use free of charge to encourage people back into the city.”Parents said they found the situation a ‘nightmare’ and shop workers said non-customers frequently used their loos to the point where they ran out of toilet paper and soap. Source: The Star ‘It’s toodaloo public loos’.
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PUBLIC QUESTIONNAIRE Research displayed that 82% of people didn’t know where the public toilets were based.
Questionairres were given to the public to collect their opinion and knowledge of the public toilets within Sheffield City Centre. They were asked to answer honestly which public toilets they knew of and if they had clear signage. From analsying the questionnaire results it It would mostly effect tourists and new revealed the majority of students to city as they wouldn’t have the the public didn’t know knowledge of locals or regular visitors. where the public toilets were based. With the results showing 100% of people thought that the toilet signage within the City Centre was poor and 82.35% didn’t know where they were, it was quite expected that the public admitted to using retail and fast food toilets instead. Often they may be paying customers using the facilities however when it isn’t it’s avoidably using retailer’s resources.
The 17.65% that do know where the public toilets are know Sheffield better than the people that don’t or possibly have spent more time in the town centre. These were the most useful results recieved as it highlighted the problem and enabled a solution. The results portrayed a negative view on the signage in Sheffield City Centre. It would mostly effect tourists and new students to city as they wouldn’t have the knowledge of locals or regular visitors that are familar with the city. It also portrayed it severly effecting groups of society that could need the facilities quicker and closer to reach than others. It revealed that the elderly, disabled and families with children relied on the knowledge of public toilets nearby to make their shopping experience easier.
The results portrayed that the lack of public toilet signage and therefore the lack of awareness of the public toilets, deterred families with children from the City Centre and to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre instead. The questionnaire asked if other retail destinations were more appealing due to free and available toilets. With the results showing 100% of people thought that the toilet signage within the City Centre was poor.
The results for this were mixed suggesting the difficulty to compare retail destinations as it’s often personal preference and factors such as having young children or mobility restrictions. The last question stated that the council aren’t legally obliged to provide toilets and questioned if this was right. Some answered stating it is a human right, how it effects the elderly and children and how it encourages street urination.
However the people that didn’t agree with this made fair points, stating it could the least important thing to spent money on, that they wouldn’t use public toilets anyway due to them being unhygienic or that theres always retail toilets to use. From the questionnaires it showed that public toilets have been gradually closing for years and there have always been public complaints. From the necessity of budgeting expenditures it unfortunately means that public toilets are the first to be cut when budgeting expenditures. It emphasised the need to gain public awareness and knowledge of the public toilets within the city to make full use of the facilities still provided.
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THE
Barely
EXISTING MAPS Sheffield City Centre
Throughout Sheffield City Centre there are maps which display ‘you are here’ and it labels the surrounding area’s streets, shops and facilities in attempt to direct the public to what they need in the city. However due to the maps being dated they are lacking in the true information. For example in the map at the However- what is initially noticed , top of Fargate it states ‘Orchard is that they aren’t noticeable. Square’ with no recognition of public toilets, when these are the the only public toilets which are free to access and yet there is no signage displaying them. The maps lack a clear key and the icons are small and un-noticed. The character of Sheffield is lost within the grey silhouettes of buildings and to tourists it would be difficult to know what the building looked like from the map. This may have been attempted to fit into their urban environment of concrete buildings and steel framework but it becomes camouflaged within the city. Blending into the urban backdrop. These are maps aimed at people who are new to the city or visiting so they should stand out in a friendly and aesthetically pleasing manner. From this it clear that the signage needed to be brighter in order to be more eye-catching and to be seen. It needs to be directing clearly with effective icons signifying key buildings to help with navigation and public toilets to ensure awareness of the essential facilities.
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D I R E C T I O N A L S I G N AG E Creating Arrows in the Way-finding System
Using strong geometric shapes apeared the most visually striking as these were clear and direct. The aim was to design a set of signage that would be recognisable to the public, to achieve this it must have a consistent colour, shape and visual language throughout. Different types of existing way-finding were researched, looking at signage, arrows and general communication. Strong geometric shapes seemed to be the most visually striking as these appeared direct and the larger they were the more noticeable they became. From this it was noted techniques such as scale, lighting and flocking were used to create a dynamic energy and curiosity. Possible ideas were sketched out to see what worked. The simplistic arrow head had potential to be
developed more as this is a iconic symbol all members of public would recognise as a direction. From this lines were constructed within the shape using existing angles creating a 3-D effect. The symmetrical designs were the most successful as it kept the design directing where it should be, the un-evenly distributed lines created a contrasting directions. The two designs were progressed, with the sleek longer arrow with more lines working better than the bold, chunkier arrow. Experimentation with colour achieved a bright and unisex colour scheme using a palette of shades of blue and orange.
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DESIGNING THE SYMBOLS I n d i c a t i n g M a l e a n d F e m a l e To i l e t s
The initial experiments used variations of shapes and the colour scheme to create female and male characters. To compliment the geometric arrow the designs were angular and used similar shapes. The 3-D effect created in the arrow by the varied triangles were also used in the male and female icon designs. Alike to typical male and female symbols, a simplistic approach was undertook focusing on the silhouette. Having the designs This is the developed final icon to for the male and female as close indicate where the male and as possible created a consistant female public toilets are, these are design and displayed them as used to pin-point on the map. a pair. In order to look visually balanced the heads match with These were developing female and male signage with only a difference in the bodies width. This creates a harmonious symmetry and a equal relationship between the characters. The icons needed to be simple to be a recognisable representation for public toilets when decreased in size. The striped designs were too busy and has too much detail, due to the purpose of the signs they should be more graphic and recognisable than ornamental.
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The symbols needed to be simple to be a recognisable representation for male and female public toilets when decreased in size and used on maps.
These are two other experimentations using the different shapes to create male and female forms. Alike to the first designs the male character has a wider top to create broad shoulders and to appear masculine. The female has a wider bottom to create the idea of a dress and On the fourth set of symbols I therefore appearing more create a narrower ‘dress’ to the female and feminine. These could be doing this attempted visual symmetry and a portrayed as stereotypical characteristics that are untrue as all men aren’t this shape and all women don’t just wear dresses. However this is how the public identify traits which define gender symbols in a simplistic manner. The hexagon symbols look futuristic with helmet shaped head and winged arms, the angular formation appears robotic rather than human.
included the key combinations of colour. The orange and blue combined compliments each other and connotes a friendly and happy energy. It was important to use the lighter and darker shades together as the darker shades of blue and orange alone would portray the designs to be more masculine based.
Having the white space fill the triangles created a 3-D element that matched the arrow design. Unfortunately the shapes created didn’t have purpose in relation to complete form and seemed like pointless ornamentation.
The symbols designed don’t have the traditional characteristics of arms and legs but create body and head shape. The decided symbols for the public toilet icon are triangular figures with the point facing left. This creates a nose like angle and as if the symbol is facing to the left in profile view.
The designs using only three colours worked better as they appeared simplistic and a striking compared to those that used more. On the bottom set of symbols it shows experiments using the male character design flipped upside down to form the female. Interestingly created the recognisable broad top male and broad bottom female. With this aspect of symmetry the designs appeared in sync and as a duo. When applying the colour scheme to the symbols a balance of blue and orange shades was applied. This ensured that the colour scheme was maintained constant and
The orange and blue combined compliments each other and connotes a friendly and happy energy.
The geometric forms appear contemporary and contrast to the traditional male and female symbols. The circular heads and limbs with rounded corners create a human shape with basic stick arms and legs. The male and female are often nearly identical with the difference being the female skirt.
The male and female symbols similarity attempted visual symmetry and harmony.
The chosen male and female symbol uses three colours from the colour scheme and this allows the other colours to be used to when designing around it. By using the same colour on the bottom of the head and top of the body then the same colours used on each of the sides, the shape feels like one piece. The space between creates character and the abstract effect of a mouth opening.
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BUILDING ICONS Recognising Sheffield To add character and personality to the maps some of Sheffield’s iconic and buildings were illustrated. This was done to help people identify their whereabouts from signifiers other than street name.
1. The Town Hall / The Peace Gardens To design the Town Hall a competition to architects was launched. Of the 178 designs submitted, that of a Mr. E. W. Mountford was judged to be the best. It was constructed over a seven-year period from 1890 to 1897. During construction, the building was criticised for its expensive embellishments. The Peace Gardens layout emphasises the water-features and is a popular venue for families during the summer; with its walk-in fountain is especially popular with children. It has fountains at the centre, and cascades around the outside. These are to represent the flowing molten steel, which made Sheffield famous, and also the water of Sheffield’s rivers, the Sheaf, River Don, River Rivelin, River Loxley and Porter Brook, which were used to power the mills which drove Sheffield’s industry.
2. The Hubs Formely a museum for contemporary music and culture it is now the Student Union of Sheffield Hallam University known as The Hubs. Due to it’s previous purposes the building consists of four giant stainless steel drums that were specially made to project sound. This gives the building its unsual aesthetic with the architectural shape now insignificent in correlation to its current purpose. Altered to accomodate students it provides office space for activities, volunteering and advice and a union cafe, shop and bar.
RECOGNISABLE, DISTINCTIVE A N D I C O N I C B U I L D I N G S T H AT E M B O DY T H E C H A R AC T E R O F SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE.
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3. The Winter Gardens 1.
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It is one of the largest temperate glasshouses to be built in the UK during the last hundred years and has created a stunning green world in the heart of the city. It is also the largest urban glasshouse anywhere in Europe. It is home to more than 2,000 plants from all around the world. The curving timber arches and scale of glass frame the array of plants.These can be seen through the glass and make the building feel like a natural, tranquil haven. It was important when illustrating this to show the striking framework and natural elements.
6. Moor Market The Moor Market opened in November 2013, replacing Castle Market in the Castlegate area. The buildings striking architecture is memorable and drew inspiration market halls, while using innovative modern construction techniques and high quality materials to create the exciting building. The investment in the market demonstrated the councils confidence in The Moor and the city centre. A new landmark has taken shape and it gives the city a modernised, fresh aesthetic. Illustrating this building meant ensuring it’s key aspects were clearly depicted. The curved roof and triangular windows are distinct so these were used to highlight it’s strongest features.
4. The City Hall 3.
4.
The building was designed in 1920 by E. Vincent Harris but construction was delayed 8 years because of the economic climate in the early 1920s. It is a neo-classical building with a giant portico. The Oval Hall is the largest hall in the building, seating 2,271 people. The grand and lavish pillared structure of the architecture create height and sophistication. With stairs leading to the building it creates anticipation and built up. Infront of this is two square fountains, emulating the angular form of the building. There was significant important to include the pillars, creating the angular room and built of stairs as these are the most memorable features. With the front fountains it allowed the movement of water to be create with the emphasised splashes.
5.
5. Hendersons Relish Factory
6.
The spicy condiment Henderson’s Relish, started life in Sheffield over one hundred years ago and advertises this with the product slogan “Made in Sheffield for over a 100 years”. It is one of Sheffield’s best loved products and the factory characterizes the charm and spirit of the city. The signage was included due to it clearly labelling the otherwise anonymous standard, brick building and it being the most noticable characteristic about it. The name is also displayed on the side but due to the design needing to be simplified to be read when small it was left off.
7. The Lyceum Theatre One of the last in it’s style remaining, the Lyceum Theatre is grand and opulant. Built to a traditional proscenium arch design, the Lyceum is the only surviving theatre outside London designed by the famous theatre architect W.G.R. Sprague and the last example of an Edwardian auditorium in Sheffield. The statue on top of the Lyceum Theatre is Mercury, son of Zeus and Maia. The theatre reopened in 1990 and now serves as a venue for touring West End productions and locally produced shows. It is part of the Sheffield Theatres complex with the neighbouring Crucible Theatre and the Crucible Studio. With heavy ornamentation, the key was to simplify the core into its structured, layered arches and the round topped tower. The perspective gives a slight birds eye view with the top section wider, intended to sit within the map while remaining recognisable.
7.
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D E S I G N I N G T H E MAP The Heart of the City
devonshire street
barker’s pool
Re-branding ensured a consistent colour, shape and visual language throughout. The re-brands intention was to design a set of signage that would communicate information clearly in a bright and friendly manner. To create a consistent design aesthetic the colour scheme was applied throughout. When designing the maps the colours from the palette were carefully selected so that the blue didn’t symbolise water. Due to this the lighter blue wasn’t used and instead the navy shades were used in block colour to create building silhouettes. The orange is used on roads and the lighter tan is used on the pathways. The icons previously shown are used within to help the public navigate through the Sheffield City Centre. Four maps were created using the existing maps as the base and then updating it with the correct facilities and building icons. The icons of recognisable buildings aim to help tourists and people new to the city navigate with more ease as it would allow them to find their bearings. Being vibrant it could also attract locals and then create awareness of the public toilets they didn’t know existed or thought had closed. They add personality to the city demonstrating it’s key attributes. The prominent features of the buildings
were exaggerated to form solid colour vector images. Four popular areas of the city centre were chosen to base the maps, they included the public toilets and the surrounding areas buildings and street names. It includes the Town Hall, Peace Gardens, the City Hall, the Lyceum Theatre, the Winter Gardens, Henderson’s Relish Factory, The Hubs and the new Moor Market. The simplified forms fit nicely with the colour scheme and feel part of the map. A minimal block colour arrow marks the position of the map and the public viewing the map within the city centre. From this the public can see a rough distance of where they want to travel to and the streets they must follow to travel there.
fa r g a t e
the moor
The maps are a playful and eye-catching revamp of the originals. The aim of the maps combined with the mini-billboards was to raise public awareness and with the arrows, become a finally noticed navigational system. The same colours are used on the full length of the maps displaying the area illustrated above. The central Sheffield map is used on the min-billboards as this clearly labels and shows the area the way-finding system is based. On here the public toilets are pin-pointed and when combined with text it becomes a informative piece with the way-finding system.
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Devonshire Street
Fargate
Barker’s Pool
The Moor
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