Dissertation ARD 601 by Ola Kotowska

ARD 601

Dissertation

“CAN YOU FIND THE EXIT OR NOT?! YES OR NO?! IF THERE IS

A signed copy of this form must be attached securely to the front of your work. Failure to attach this form may well result in you not receiving a mark. Name:

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Aleksandra Kotowska

BA Graphic Design

What should an effective information system for a paediatric department look like?

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9.12.2014

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Bön Bannholzer, Left, Right, Up, Down Gestalten 2010

What should an effective information system for a paediatric department look like?

Aleksandra Kotowska

Glyndwr University 2015

1. INTRODUCTION Information systems are fundamental to guide people and help them find the way to their destination. In addition they play a crucial role in terms of branding and creating recognition of the place that they are in. Intuitive signage systems may help people comfortably navigate a built environment, even during their first visit. Existing systems on airports and train stations prove that, especially in places where stress and anxiety are predominant emotions, a professionally designed signage systems may reduce both the feeling of being lost and its further negative consequences. Effective information systems are crucial also from a different point of view. Research shows that when visitors are not given any directions via signboards or maps, they will stop “(…) every 30 feet while traveling through a facility and ask an employee for directions”.1 The scale of such a disruption is incredible and it interferes with the work of employees. Even the simplest signage system may resolve this problem by making the visitors feel comfortable and letting the staff stay concentrated and productive.

http://www.lhsigns.com/ importance-wayfinding -hospitals.html

The environment of my particular interest is a hospital - probably one of the most avoided and detested places, visited only in situations of absolute necessity. Those visits are mostly connected with feelings of fear, anxiety, frustration and stress, which people suffer from already long before the actual visit takes place. If there is anything that can ease the negative emotions or at least not add another reason to them, it has to be done. Information systems are certainly such an opportunity. During the research process I carefully analysed many case studies from all over the world and personally visited more than half a dozen hospitals in Poland, England and Wales. Gaining theoretical knowledge in the first place, mostly through reading project descriptions and designer’s comments, helped me gather a base for further practical research phase. When I moved towards visiting hospitals in person, I already had certain amount of knowledge and knew what I wanted to observe and what I should pay most attention to. Three out of all the hospitals I visited will serve as model case studies for my analysis. Firstly Public Children’s Hospital Działdowska in Warsaw, Poland, secondly Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, England and lastly North Wales Regional Hospital, Wrexham Maelor.

2. SIGNAGE SYSTEMS To begin with, there are three key elements which form a visual information system in a hospital and it’s surroundings: a. Exterior vehicular system, which target are mostly drivers of personal vehicles (such as patients and visitors) and professional vehicles (ambulances, rescue teams) b. Exterior pedestrian system, for pedestrians entering and leaving the hospital (patients and visitors, medical and supporting staff) c. Interior pedestrian system, which serves anyone who may be inside the hospital building – patients, visitors, medical staff, supporting and technical staff, volunteers, medical students etc. Only the right connection between all three makes the system work as a whole. First of all they should be coherent visually in terms of colours and typography used, logotypes and layout and should form an easily recognisable and “hospital-joined” system. Secondly and even more fundamentally, they should be complementary in giving directions. “It is so confusing when I want to get to certain place and the signs keep conflicting each other”. It is just one of the things I heard when asking patients and visitors about their struggles when walking around hospitals. Many of them pointed out that it was exceptionally difficult to find the way around the hospital not only upon arrival, but lately, during their stay there. This leads to another important point – signage should be just as functional and clear for the ones that are already inside the building and try to, for example, walk to another ward to get tested as it is for those who have just entered the hospital through main entrance. Moreover the way signs are designed should, by the colours, shapes and location put it’s users in a good mood by making them feel in control and confident about where they are. What makes it so hard for a patient or a visitor to find his way around the building? Closer analysis of Public Children’s Hospital Działdowska in Warsaw, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Wrexham Maelor Hospital shows that the reasons are far from complicated or ambiguous - they are in fact really simple.

3. CASE STUDY: PUBLIC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL DZIAŁDOWSKA Public Children’s Hospital Działdowska, opened in 1913, is one of the oldest hospitals in Warsaw. Throughout over a hundred years of operation it has changed the building of occupation, undergone many construction works, wards were added and the whole building was growing to the size and form that we see nowadays.2 For that reason many side sections of the hospital differ architecturally and conceptually from the main body of the building.

http://spdsk.edu.pl/ oszpitalu/historiama.html

There is no general plan of the whole hospital that could be found at the entrance or in the main reception desk. The only type of plans that may be found around the building are evacuation plans, which obviously should not be used by lost visitors on daily bases. Działdowska hospital is not a huge building – it’s got 4 floors and 8 wards named with letters of the alphabet, but what is clearly visible in many ordinary situations, when stressed and anxious people do not even need large spaces to get lost quite easily. When new sections are added, obviously there is a need for new direction signs. Sometimes they are made by a professional signage company, but in most cases lack of time and money leads to temporary solutions that unfortunately, stay on the walls for good. Some of those signs are plain A4 prints, others are handwritten, but there is absolutely no connection between them and the ones that belong to an already existing system. But hand-made signs are not only seen in new or not yet marked parts of the building. In some cases they are added to existing signs in spaces where people get lost frequently. It is a natural reaction of members of staff and clearly shows that even existing system is not working in many cases and needs to be supported with extra arrows and guides. Most signs are using a warm, but rather unoriginal colour palette ranging from beige and yellow up to brown tones. Apart from room plates there are information signs with names of the rooms or facilities. Most of them are vinyl cut and placed directly onto the door surface (glass in some cases) of each room. In some cases doors stay permanently opened which makes it impossible for users to read or even find the sign.

Some rooms are still signposted with signs from early ’80, representing a totally different aesthetics and realization. These signs are mostly placed over the door header (top casing), at about 2-2.10m height. Boards are relatively small (about 15x20 cm) comparing to how high above user’s head they are placed. As for a paediatric hospital wards, where most patients are shorter than 120 cm, it is too high without any doubt. It is crucial to remember that general direction signs in the hospital building are mostly used by visitors (families, friends), but the ones inside wards should primarily serve patients, who, in fact, are the ones to spend most of their time there. A signboard placed at a 2-meter-height in a paediatric ward serves just as if it was not there at all. Typefaces used are usually serif, geometrical and from a today’s perspective, really outdated and inadequate. Words are all capitalized, which leads to many different confusions, for example between letters and numbers (O vs. 0, S vs. 8 etc). An important issue when working on any signage system is naming. Each ward, room and sector of the building should be named in a simple and clear way. Obviously there are certain rules regarding naming of public healthcare institutions that can not be neglected, but little alterations or compromises can usually be made within those regulations. One of the best examples from Poland is naming toilets. The official recommendation says a toilet should be called “sanitary and hygienic room”. Howewer, in this case the law is flexible enough to permit usage of names “toilet” or “WC” instead, which are much more clear and obvious for any user of a signage system. One of the problems in Działdowska Hospital is that the same spaces hold different names all over the hospital. One of the most striking examples is the immune lab, which holds two entirely different names on signboards that are hung on the wall one under another. Furthermore, supporting arrows on both boards point in two entirely different directions. Cases like this lead to overall user confusion and signage mess. The worst of all possible scenarios is when users are confused not because there are no signs, but because the ones that are placed on the walls are in wrong, impractical and probably inconsiderate locations. Results of such situations are obvious – patients and visitors are lost and, despite the existence of information system, are forced to ask a member of staff for assistance and directions.

Overall chaos is intensified by the fact that clinics and doctor’s offices change location according to organisational needs and patients flow. Room plates do not enable staff to change the names that are on them, which could be possible for example if plates were simply made of two pieces of glass and a removable tag with doctor’s name on it that would be placed in between them. Without such solutions a system becomes outdated really quickly, almost right after first changes in room functions are made. Sometimes doctors or other members of staff move to a different location, but room plates and door tags remain unchanged. In a hospital where information system does not go hand in hand with actual location of doctor’s offices and other facilities it is exceptionally difficult for a new user to find his way towards any consulting room. In some cases members of staff try to keep the system more of less up to date. They start marking their rooms on their own after they are moved to a different location, usually by quickly putting a printed or handwritten information over the previous one. Without any doubts even the poorest quality print with the right information is better then no signs at all. Unfortunately as a result all the elements of signage system are chaotic and they lack one coherent theme. Most hospital signage systems work only if a user enters the building through main entrance and reception hall and then proceeds towards desired destination. Whereas when entering the hospital through any other entrance (ambulance/rescue team entrance, ER) or already being inside one of the wards and looking for signs, the system fails to guide. It is not visible as clearly in Działdowska’s case as it was in some of the other hospitals in Poland that I visited, for example Inflancka Specialist Hospital in Warsaw. Signboards with all wards listed and maps of the whole building may only be found in the main lobby and inside staircases on each level. When walking around wards or inside corridors the only signs that a user of a system sees are simple “name/arrow” boards. The system is not transferred onto digital media. The Hospital’s website is entirely independent in terms of content and design.3 There are more than three fonts used within the page and the colour scheme does not match the one that is found inside the building. Contact details and most useful links are brought up to the top of the sidebar, which makes the urgent search for information faster and easier. The website is not frequently updated - last updates are from May’14 (more than half a year ago). It is quite easy to navigate it, but the content seems to be quite static and boring, as there is mostly text and not enough graphics or photography to intrigue and entertain a reader.

http://spdsk.edu.pl/ szp-dzialdowska/ oddzialy-kliniczne/ nestezjologia-dz.html

Overall impression and experience of Public Children’s Hospital Działdowska is a bit chaotic and disorganized. Luckily the whole building is quite small, so after a little while the whole construction becomes quite clear to the user. Still there is no identification system that would be coherent for the whole hospital and easily recognizable among it’s patients. A use of colour, unified pictograms and typeface would be the simplest and most effective solution. In terms of wayfinding there is still a lot to be done. User’s paths should be primarily tracked down and broken into pieces to see what kind of sign boards are really needed and where they should be placed.

^ Multiple â&#x20AC;&#x153;toiletâ&#x20AC;? signboard styles found within one building.

^ Handmade signs over an existing one.

3. CASE STUDY: BRISTOL ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN

http://www.uhbristol.nhs. uk/about-us/our-heritage/

http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=212

http://www.uhbristol.nhs. uk/patients-and-visitors/ your-hospitals/bristol-royal-hospital-for-children/

http://www.uhbristol.nhs. uk/patients-and-visitors/ your-hospitals/bristol-royal-hospital-for-children/ childrens-website/

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children forms a part of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust which includes seven hospitals within the city. It is situated in the central part of Bristol and occupies a modern, £30-million building from early 2001. As we read on the hospital’s website “by the end of the last century, the building had become outdated, with advances in technology and rising demand for services. A major public fund-raising campaign was launched to build a purpose-built, exciting and child-friendly new building.” 4 The whole construction work was a huge challenge both from architectural and designer point of view. The hospital has got 7 levels, an Outpatient Department and 8 wards with 160 beds altogether.5 An extension is currently being built to accommodate specialised services, including neuroscience and plastic surgery, so the whole building is still growing in size. Many useful information may be found just before a patient actually arrives into the hospital, as the hospital’s website is a really well-thought information system itself. All hospitals forming part of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust have separate sub-pages where all sort of data may be found. Under the “Bristol Royal Hospital for Children” tab there are detailed descriptions of each ward with contact details and all sort of useful information.6 There are information both for patients and parents, all additional services listed and an absolute masterpiece at the bottom of sidebar - “Children’s Website”.7 It is a website built and designed like a children’s computer game, with bright colours and appropriate graphics and typography used. A child, simply by playing around the site, may find information about the hospital (how does it work, what to bring with you) and the wards (level/colour, how big is it, who works there and who receives treatment), but also reasons why staying there is necessary and what does it mean to have an X-Ray. It is a simple yet powerful tool that, using simple interactions, educates young patients just before they arrive in the hospital. The whole system is coherent with the one that may be seen in real life. There are references to the statue that stands in front of the hospital and to the colours that are used inside the building which instantly creates connection between the visitor and the edifice. Exterior information systems work well for the whole audience. Multiple signs situated all around the building direct ambulances and private

vehicles towards the parking lot. Information boards and arrow-signs show the way to the main entrance for pedestrians. On the ground floor there is a reception desk only and a short corridor leading towards multiple lifts. Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, unlike many others, is operating primarily on vertical axis, which means that user moves vertically (up/down) first and only after reaching desired level starts moving horizontally (right/left/front/back) around the wards. The key role of a system in such a building is to give clear instructions and even in a way to divide the visitors right upon their arrival. Each and every person needs to know where exactly they are going just before they reach the lifts or escalators. The main theme of the visual information system in Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is colour. Each ward has a different tint and all sort of graphic elements added to it. Colours are used all over the rooms and corridors – on the floor and walls, sometimes even reaching the ceiling. The kidney diseases ward (4th floor), for example, is a yellow level. The whole floor, walls and ceilings are painted yellow. The overall theme is beach and seaside, so there are starfish and sandcastles painted on the floor and walls, clouds up on the ceiling and some sailboats on the horizon. The whole experience of different colours around the building is not just about signboards and coloured typography – the colours are there for real. On the green floor (5th floor) you will find grass, trees and flowers literally everywhere. The colour code is easily memorable both for patients and visitors. The whole system is broken down into two types of information boards. Firstly there are signs that inform a user about the floor that he is currently on in the building. There are boards of that kind on each floor and one downstairs, just by the reception desk, that is clearly visible when entering the building. They show the floor with it’s colour and a short description of wards and facilities that are situated there. There are smaller versions of those boards inside the lifts and the lifts itself play little humorous recordings about each floor upon arrival (for example: “Welcome to the green floor where the trees grow high and the flowers smell just amazing!”). Secondly there are simple information boards that give directions on each level (ward) separately. They are run with the same typeface as main information boards and in colours accordingly to level’s colours.

Another key factor that helps patients get around the building easily and quickly is the fact that, as I was told by a member of staff, the right floor and it’s colour is written right on the hospital referral from GP. So from the very first moment of the whole “hospital experience” a visitor knows precisely where to go. Reception desk staff confirms that not many people ask for directions upon their arrival in the hospital – most of them already know where they are heading to. A member of reception staff also told me that ‘usually people ask quickly “Is yellow ward on level 4?”, as if they just needed a quick confirmation that the direction they have already taken is correct.’ There is no need for any sort of complicated map as well, because the way the whole system and architecture is broken down to simplest pieces is absolutely enough for a visitor to move around the hospital comfortably without getting lost in details. Patient experience was very important for the constructors and designers, so the whole system is really friendly in terms of design and placement. Most signs are on the eye level of an average adult (~1,60 cm hight) written with a bold and clear sans-serif font. The whole design is clean and simple but not boring at the same time, as a result of the colour palette. What is even more important, the stereotypical way of thinking about a hospital as a sterile, full-white place is converted into an entirely modern approach. Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is a colourful place where you should feel comfortable and relaxed, feel free to laugh, play around and, maybe only for a second, forget about the reasons behind your stay there. Overall impression is really positive and charming. It is easy to move around the building and quickly find desired destination. The whole visual information system is easy to understand, memorise and then use when moving from one place to another. The thought behind it makes the whole system not only practical and purely informational. This visual information system is a coherent and very important element of the whole interior design of the hospital, making it a cosy and positive place to stay.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Colour-coded directions make it easier for visitors to find their way, enabling them to identify quickly the nature of the information they are after. This may only speed the process up by a matter of seconds, but it reduces stress and contributes to the overall efficiency of the system.â&#x20AC;? Andreas Uebele, Signage systems and information graphics, Thames & Hudson 2009

^ Colour code explained on an information board in front of the main entrance.

4. CASE STUDY: WREXHAM MAELOR HOSPITAL

http://www.wales.nhs. uk/sitesplus/documents/861/12_52_3%20 Major%20Trauma%20Services.pdfage/

The North Wales Regional Hospital, Wrexham Maelor is the largest hospital in UK and second largest hospital in Wales. It has 980 beds in more than 8 buildings. Founded in 1826, apart from an active and busy medical practice (A&E with over 30,000 emergency cases every year and a catchment area of over half a million residents), is one of the main teaching hospitals in Wales.8 It is a relatively huge building and the visitors vary from patients and their families to medical students. Exterior information systems work perfectly well. Direction signs pointing the way towards the hospital may be found all over Wrexham town streets. Around the hospital site there are additional signboards showing way to car parks, main buildings and A&E. As there are so many independent buildings forming the whole medical group, there was an obvious need for a good visual information system within the site. There are detailed maps of the whole area with each building marked with a different colour. The “You are here” icon plays key role in spacial orientation for a user of this system. It looks the same on all maps, both exterior and interior ones, so localizing yourself becomes really simple. The main building is spread horizontally over quite a large area. It consists of a main hall with reception desk, shop and visitor’s area and a long corridor that grows from it. Entrances to the wards are located along both sides of the corridor. Each ward was given a number, which may not be as easy to memorise, but in a building that complex there seems not to be any other, simpler way. Ceilings are low (~2,30 m) and the most of directional system boards are placed there – over the head. It enables visitors to see signs from a long distance and, what is even more important, makes the signs visible even if a particular corridor is very crowded. Apart from signs that give directions, there are lists of all wards with their numbers (ordered alphabetically, not according to numbers) and large maps placed on the walls all over the hospital. On the top of each map there is a short description of how the whole system works and what exactly should the user do in order to find information and get to a desired destination. “Look for your department in the directory listing and note the department number and floor. This number will be signposted along the corridor and at the department entrance. Check the signs at the top of this panel to ensure that you start in a good direction.” Signs at the top of the panel are just simple arrows with ward’s numbers – one pointing

to the left with a range of wards that may be found there (eg. wards 1-20) and another analogously to the other side (eg. wards 21-40). It is a simple but exceptionally clever idea, that works well with just a little concentration from a user required. An important factor is that there is one map every 50-60 meters, which is a reasonable distance. It allows the visitor to verify the track often enough not to require additional help from a member of staff. At this point it is important to mention that there are additional members of staff working during the busiest hours throughout the week, who take care of the visitors and help them find their way to wards. They usually sit just at the beginning of the main corridor and may be asked for help. That is another way of dealing with communication problems inside the building by supplementing an existing, static visual information system with dynamic and interactive direction-givers. It all really helps visitors feel more comfortable and confident and just a little less stressed or anxious. As it is a Welsh hospital, the whole system has to be bilingual – using Welsh and English. From that point of view the choice to represent wards with numbers rather than names was a really clever and practical idea. All other designations are written in both languages, in the same typeface and size, but in different colours. The whole system is based on white and navy blue. For Welsh signs text is blue and background white and for English negative space is used – white text is placed over a blue background. That creates a feeling of cohesion and is visually pleasant. Signs are easy to follow, but their visibility varies. In some places they are clearly noticeable, even from a distance, but in sometimes they just merge into the architecture and interior design of the corridors and rooms. It is particularly visible with white Welsh boards, which blend into bright walls and are hard to spot in some places. On the other hand the whole system is perceived as simple and clean because only two tones are used in it. Despite the size, the hospital does not have an independent website and the only information about it may be found on the Wrexham County Borough Council official website under the “Community” tab.9 Basic directions for different means of transport and contact details may be found there. It is an absolute minimum and probably works just well for the local community, but, keeping in mind nowadays’ standards, it is not enough for an institution of that size and importance.

http://www.wrexham.gov. uk/english/community/ wrexham_hospital/

Communication inside and outside the hospital is quite easy and intuitional. Signs are usually noticeable from a distance and point the proper direction. Despite the big area covered by the whole medical complex it is not difficult to get around the place and find all spots that an average visitor may need â&#x20AC;&#x201C; parking lot, main entrance, A&R etc. The only worry may concern the way wards are marked. It is not easy to memorise a random number when under pressure and stressed. In a large and crowed hospital it is even hard to concentrate for a minute and analyse a map, especially if it is too complicated and detailed. On the other hand it is not easy to simplify a system that describes a building of that size. A positive thing is without a doubt the fact that all the elements that form part of the whole system are visually and structurally coherent. It gives an overall impression of a professional and unified system that really works.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Hospitals often provide too much information at inappropriate locations. Providing information to go to anywhere from everywhere is overcomplicated and can lead to information overload. Sometimes less is more.â&#x20AC;? http://www.lhsigns.com/importance-wayfinding-hospitals.html

5. WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF AN EFFECTIVE VISUAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR A HOSPITAL?

Grayson J, Sprague C, Steel C, Jerome C, THIS WAY – Signage Design for Public Spaces, p.84, Rockport Publishers, 2000

A successfully working system is always a user-centred one. Visitor’s needs, wants and potential limitations are the most important factors that have to be taken under account throughout the whole design process. Most of people who visit hospitals experience anxiety, frustration and stress. They are generally less organised and focused and much more likely to get lost. Anger and aggression are two most common reactions to the whole difficult situation. In my opinion a perfect visual information system should be able to reduce those feelings to minimum or at least not add more confusion to an already complicated situation. “A thoughtfully designed space with a welcoming interior voice appeals not only to visitors, but also to employees and staff members, translating into positive attitudes, greater motivation, and increased productivity.” 10 Designer should begin with thinking of different types of visitors that may come to the building – patients, families, doctors, supporting staff, volunteers, medical students etc. A lot of information may as well be revealed when tracing down all the paths that each user may potentially take. When all types of user profiles are known (Why did they come to the hospital? Where do they want to go?), all pieces of information may be put in the correct places. The right choice of typefaces and colours also contribute to a reduction of stress among system users. The information system as a whole should consequently be as intuitive and simple as possible. An average visitor should be able to quickly familiarise himself with the way signs are designed and to use them effectively without additional helps from members of staff. Although generally among designers is it said that rules are made to be broken, in this case quite the opposite seems to be working much better. Working on a wayfinding system for a hospital should not be approached as a creative and purely designer brief – above all it should be a professional and functional system. Architectural and psychological factors have to be taken into consideration. There are some visual information systems that are based on entirely fresh way of thinking, such as the one on Victoria’s Station in London. A part of the whole system is a set of bright vinyl-cut lines stuck onto the floor, that guide people to different destinations (toilets, coach station, taxis, car park). It is a new approach to wayfinding, but still is supported by traditional signboards that are easily recognisable by an international audience.

Pictograms and any additional graphics used must match all the other elements of the system in terms of shapes, colours and style. They should be simple but readable and easy to understand for wide target audience. Among all the users there will be children and teenagers, elderly people, staff and doctors – all coming from a different social, cultural and religious background. All types of signs should be universal enough for each and everyone to be able to read them and put their guidance into practice. Our daily experience of using public transportation like subway or trams, visiting new cities, travelling by train or finding our way to the right gate at the airport shows that the so called “You are here” icon is extremely useful in many cases. Seeing the same map with this icon moving as a user moves through a building gives him an experience close to using a GPS system when travelling. Being able to locate yourself and verify if the path that we follow is the correct one is extremely important. The “You are here” icon should be used especially in larger buildings where maps are used as a supplement to signboards. It is extremely important that the system is coherent in terms of typography, colour and scale. “(…) when a coherent, multi-layered design strategy is employed, the result can be an experience that envelops the visitor in meaning and promotes deeper understanding.” 11 Sans-serif fonts are more legible, even from a distance. High contrasts between colours make the visual elements easier to spot and read. Strong hues are as well easily memorable, which is exceptionally important for systems that use colours as a primary distinction between different parts of the building. Text works perfectly well both in positive and negative space, as it was observed in Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Sizes of the boards and typography placed on then vary depending on the content that has to fit in them. Letters should be big enough to be seen, first of all, from a distance and secondly – by users suffering from vision disabilities. Before being actually put up on the walls, signboards should be first printed on plain paper, mocked up up on the wall and tested in terms of visibility and clarity of all letterforms.

Grayson J, Sprague C, Steel C, Scolnick L, THIS WAY – Signage Design for Public Spaces, p.10, Rockport Publishers, 2000

^ Vertical, floor-based visual information system on Victoria Station, London.

6. CONCLUSION

Grayson J, Sprague C, Steel C, Gregory A, THIS WAY – Signage Design for Public Spaces, p.117, Rockport Publishers, 2000

Visual information system should primarily help users get around certain space by giving simple directions and any supporting information that may be needed. It should be well visible and readable from a distance and different angles. All symbols should be clearly understandable for all members of the target audience. Any typography should be of a size that is adequate to a sign’s function – different for a little sign on the door (room number and function, toilet etc.) and for a general information board. “A successful wayfinding system gives user a sense of order. Effective design orders the environment by identifying a series of zones, establishing disorient spaces, creating intuitive paths, and presenting memorable landmarks along the way.” 12 System’s effectiveness can be quickly measured by the number of visitors getting lost based on how frequently are they asking for additional assistance when moving around the building. A perfect visual information system would enable to eliminate all such cases. Furthermore information system should correspond with overall interior design and should contribute to creating an atmosphere inside the building. By carefully choosing colours, materials and lighting a designer may help create a friendly environment in which visitors feels comfortable and confident. That applies to hospitals in particular, as there is an exceptional need for creating a supportive and positive surrounding for patients undergoing treatments and recovering. When it comes to children wards, visual information may draw patient’s attention away from the reality of staying in a hospital and it may also create a connection between the child and the clinic. The role of design is transforming from a purely artistic way of expression towards a serviceable tool that works hand in hand with architecture and psychology. Using simple methods public spaces such as hospitals may gain an absolutely fresh face and it’s users may be gifted with and entirely new experience, a lot more peaceful, organised and positive.

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY Uebele A, Signage systems and information graphics, Thames & Hudson, London 2009 Bannholzer B, Left, Right, Up, Down – New directions in signage and wayfinding, Gestalten, Berlin 2010 Grayson J, Sprague C, Steel C, THIS WAY – Signage Design for Public Spaces, Rockport Publishers, 2000 Cheung V, You Are Here – A new approach to signage and wayfinding, Viction:ary, Hong Kong 2013 Abdullah R, Hubner R, Pictograms, Icons and Signs – A guide to information graphics, Thames & Hudson, New York 2006 Lupton E, Design writing research: Writing on graphic design, Phaidon, London 1999 Wildbur P, Information graphics: Innovative solutions in contemporary design, Thames & Hudson, London 1998

8. WEBSITES http://www.lhsigns.com/importance-wayfinding-hospitals.html http://spdsk.edu.pl/oszpitalu/historiama.html http://spdsk.edu.pl/szp-dzialdowska/oddzialy-kliniczne/nestezjologia-dz.html http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/about-us/our-heritage/ http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=212 http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/your-hospitals/bristol-roy al-hospital-for-children/ http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/your-hospitals/bristol-roy al-hospital-for-children/childrens-website/ http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/documents/861/12_52_3%20Major%20Trauma%20Services.pdf