Key Approaches to Wayfinding

An understanding of how people perceive their environment, create memory, and learn about places provides vital clues in decoding environments and determining what is significant during the design and planning process.

Placement planning provides a rationale for the optimization of information points in key locations within centers.

Different users have different needs. While some users need minimal information to orient themselves, others may be first-time visitors who need navigation guidance. Some visitors may need just enough information to allow them to wander without getting lost.

A set of fundamental design principles are needed to create a connected wayfinding system, ensuring all modes and communications speak with one voice.

Consistent naming of places and landmarks throughout downtown helps people to communicate the locations of those places and landmarks. Coding provides a shortcut for memory and simplifies complex information.

High-quality design and attention to detail make information more legible and places easier to understand and navigate.

Convey the Right Information at the Right Time

A family of different sign types can/should be strategically placed to avoid adding clutter to the environment. The method begins by distilling the downtown into its constituent parts—its entry points, route structure, landmarks, and destinations—as a series of welcome points, arrival points, decision points, and reorientation points, connected by links.

Welcome Points

Entrances should provide a ‘Welcome to Largo’ message to help orient visitors and provide an overview of what is available from that point. They should reflect the character of the place, provide a fresh perspective, and clearly convey a welcoming message. Welcome points are located at major access points, in areas where there is space for people to browse and view information. Where space is limited, information should be brief, allowing people to quickly digest important data.

Sign Types: gateway, vehicular directional, pedestrian info hub

Reorientation Points

Reorientation points are areas where visitors can engage or reengage with information. They help reinforce orientation and give an overview of what there is to do in Largo Town Center.

They could, for example, highlight nearby destinations. Reorientation points are located adjacent to destinations and resting areas.

Sign Types: Info Pylon, Vehicular Directional, Pavement Marker

Arrival Points

Arrival points provide information to help visitors plan their journey as they enter a district. They help provide more detailed information about the layout of the downtown and pathway connections.

Sign Types: District Gateway, Vehicular Directional, Pedestrian Info Hub

Decision Points

Decision points are located at key nodes/junctions to ‘nudge’ visitors along to their destinations. Information focuses on the destinations that people need most frequently and quickly, for example the direction and distance to nearby destinations.

Sign Types: Info Pylon, Directional Sign, Pavement Marker

Provide Wayfinding for the Full Journey Lifecycle

The journey to and within Downtown Largo should be considered through all modes which include pre-journey planning through the visit and returning home. By making a consistent set of information from graphics, mapping, content, and naming a visitor will have ease of access and a connected journey. This includes web, mobile, print, signs, landmarks, art, and people. This will span the entire journey from arrival, getting around Downtown Largo, and finding and enjoying the journey and destination.

Pre-Journey Planning

Where is the Town Center?

How do I get there?

Where can I park?

Can I get there by bike?

Arrival Orientation

Where Am I?

Where’s my destination?

How far is it?

Where can I get information? Which way from here?

Getting Around Direction

Which way now?

What’s the quickest way? Is this the right route? How long will it take if I walk?

Interchange Planning

Can I catch the Metro from here?

When will it arrive?

How long will it take?

Is there a bus station?

When is the next one?

Destinations Finding

What is nearby?

How old is that building? Where is the Hospital? Is there a water fountain? Can I get a meal?