OCAD U WAYFINDING SYSTEM PART ONE ∙ SITE ANALYSIS BY PO L I N A K A B A KOVA ∙ 2 4 2 5 0 8 0
This is the only orientation siganage in the OCAD's Wayfinding system. It can be found in the main lobby besides the elevators.
CONTENTS PAGE 4 DECISION POINTS 1ST FLOOR 5TH FLOOR (SHARP CENTRE) 6TH FLOOR (SHARP CENTRE) PAGE 6 SCENARIOS UPPER-YEAR STUDENTS NEW STUDENTS VISITORS FACULTY DISABLED USERS
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DECISION POINTS Decision points are locations on the first floor and the Sharp Centre where signage is needed in order to help direct the visitor of the building towards their destination. These locations (marked with red circles on the floor plans) may require orientation or directional signage and in some cases a destination signage to let the visitor know they arrived at their destination (especially in case of Open Studios located on the 5th and 6th floor as they are difficult to identify upon arrival). It is regrettable that most of the decision points at OCAD do not have appropriate signage rendering the current wayfinding system ineffective.
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decision point first floor decision points (secondary) signage currently in place signage that should be in place
1 ST F L O O R
Building directory with a map that contains information unnecessary of wayfinding and mislabeled rooms due to the lack of updates.
Sign that indicates that this elevator goes to all floors and that the express elevators to Sharp Centre can be found on the other side Building directory
Map of the campus with another map of the campus taped on top of it. Sign high above the elevator that states it is an Express Elevator to 5th and 6th floors. Clear updated building directory Eye-level signage that clearly states that this elevator only goes to 5th and 6th floors.
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O C A D U WAY F I N D ING
Fire annunciator graphic.
5 TH F LO O R 543
542
540
522
530
517a
520
517b
519 Floor map Directional signage for various classrooms
550 Directional signage for various classrooms
518 528
517
546 Sign identifying that the stairs lead only to the 6th floor
544
552
516
548 549
Directional signage for various classrooms
564
555
570a
563
570f 570b
554 556
515a
501
569 570g
Overhead directional signage Floor map "Express Elevator" sign
500f
500
570e
570
517c
500e
515
560
558
570c
570d
500g
500a 500b 500c
500d
6 T H F LO O R 642 Directional signage for various classrooms
640
628
627
626
625
650 636
625 623 a
635 634 633 632 631
620
618 652
651
664
657
Print Shop Sign
665
654
617
601
617 617 a b
615a 615b
615 656
660
668
669
670
600
Floor map Directional signage for various classrooms Washroom sign
616
667
663
620 a
619
Sign identifying that the stairs lead only to the 5th floor
Directional signage for various classrooms
622
Floor map "Express Elevator" sign Directional signage for various classrooms Washroom sign
605
Decision points
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SCENARIOS In order to evaluate the current way finding system at OCAD I’ve created five different user profiles, each of them with a different destination, which would be likely if these users actually existed. Keeping these users in mind I did a walk through to their destination. Taking note of all the decision point on the way and weather the appropriate signage was present to guide the user. It is important that a wayfinding system is designed in such a way that it fits a variety of users and that’s why it’s important to conduct scenario based evaluation of the system before implementing it.
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decision point marked on the map description of the scenario steps of the basic route review of the problematic decision points
SCENARIO ONE ∙ UPPER YEAR STUDENTS In this scenario the student is already familiar with the layout of the building. It is fist day of the semester and they need to find their new classroom (room 542). They are in graphic design and therefore not as familiar with the 5th floor classroom numbers. 1. Find the building directory on the fist floor 2. Locate room 542 on the map 3. Find the elevator to the 5th floor 4. Find directional signage upon leaving the elevator 5. Turn right towards the room 6. Pass by one hall leading left 7. Continue forward until the large open area (open studios) 8. Find directional signage 9. Cross the open studio area 10. Take the right hand hallway 11. Find room 542
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O C A D U WAY F I N D ING
1. The map on the first floor is difficult to find.
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2. The map in includes a lot unnecessary information making room 542 difficult to locate.
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4. There is no signage of any sort outside of the elevator. The subject of this scenario would already get lost at this decision point.
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6. Even if they take the right turn at the elevators they might turn left at the unlabeled decision point. 7. If the student will continue walking forward until the open studio are they will be faces with a large open are with no directional signage to guide their way. 10. There are no signs in front of the two hallways to indicate what rooms can be found further on
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11. The destination sign on the door is hidden by the niche in the wall rendering it invisible.
SCENARIO TWO ∙ NEW STUDENTS 1. The map on the first floor is difficult to find.
New students are not familiar with the layout of the building, therefore, more likely to get lost. This student is looking for the Digital Print Centre (Print Shop) on the 6th floor. 1. Find the building directory on the fist floor 2. Locate Digital Print Centre on the map 3. Find the elevator to the 6th floor 4. Find directional signage upon leaving the elevator 5. Turn right towards the Digital Print Centre 6. Pass by a washroom hallway leading left 7. Continue forward until the large open area (open studios) 8. Find Digital Print Centre sign
2. The print shop is listed in the wrong room (Print Service Bureau Room 636) on the 6th floor on the building directory map. Which will result in the student getting lost and having no correct directions towards the Print Shop.
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4. No directional signage present to rectify the mistake of the map downstairs. 6. No sigange in any of the hallways. Leading the room numbers as the only clue to location of the Print Shop. 7. Print Shop created their own overhead signage that is clearly visible across the open studio area
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8. While the Print Shop's signage is effective. It is not consistent with the OCAD U's signage and doesn't fit into the wayfinding system.
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SCENARIO THREE ∙ VISITOR Visitors of the building have no prior knowledge of the building. Presence and clarity of orientation signage in the main lobby destination signage on the fifth floor are of extra importance in this scenario. This visitor is looking for Faculty of Design Offices
1. The map on the first floor is difficult to find for a person new to the building as it is obstructed by the staircase and a continuous flow of people in front of the building.
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2. The map states that inquiries about all of Faulty of Design programs (which are listed besides the map) can be made in room 500.
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1. Find the building directory on the fist floor 2. Locate Digital Print Centre on the map 3. Find the elevator to the 6th floor 4. Find directional signage upon leaving the elevator 5. Walk forward into the Faculty of Design Offices (room 500)
3. The elevator is located right besides the building directory making it easy to locate. 4. There is no signage upon leaving the elevator. 5. The office is right in front of the elevator. However the destination sigange is not clearly visible. Making the Faculty Design Offices difficult to find even when standing a few paces from the door
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Scenarios
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S C E N A R I O F O U R ∙ F A C U LT Y 1. The map on the first floor is difficult to find.
Faculty knows the building as well as the upper year students unless they are visiting or just began teaching. In either case faculty almost always needs equipment for their classes (laptop, chord). In this scenario, we have a new member of the faculty looking for the Laptop Help Desk in order to sign out equipment for their lesson.
2. The Laptop Help desk is labeled on the map, therefore, from here the faculty member can proceed to the 6th floor
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4. On the 6th floor. There is no signage at the elevators or stairs that indicate the location of Laptop Help Desk
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5. After turning right at the elevators and walking a few meters forward a red overhead Laptop Help Desk sign becomes visible.
1. Find the building directory on the fist floor 2. Locate Laptop Help Desk on the map 3. Find the elevator to the 6th floor 4. Find directional signage upon leaving the elevator 5. Turn right towards Laptop Help Desk 6. Locate the Laptop Help Desk room down the hallway
6. The Laptop Help Desk sing is visible however aesthetically it does not comply with the system. It is handmade and bears a resemblance to a Swiss flag. Nevertheless, it is still one of the more effective signs at OCAD. 2 6 1
SCENARIO FIVE ∙ DISABLED USERS In this scenario a person with a disability is looking for Keith Muller Open Studio. Here we will take in consideration different kinds of disabilities including physical disability, attention deficit and low vision or blindness. 1. Find the building directory on the fist floor 2. Locate room Keith Muller Open Studio on the map 3. Find the elevator to the 5th floor 4. Find directional signage upon leaving the elevator 5. Turn right towards the room 6. Pass by one hall leading left 7. Continue forward until the large open area (open studios) 8. Find directional signage 9. Locate Keith Muller Open Studio on the right side of the open area.
1. Seeing how the lobby is always full of people it would be difficult to locate the building directory especially for people with low vision and attention deficit disorder.
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2. If the person looking for Keith Muller Open Studio does not have it's number (room 540) they will not be able to locate it on the map since it only displays room numbers.
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4. There is no directions to follow upon leaving the elevator, this might result in inconveniences for a person with physical disabilities in a form of more distance to be traveled in search for their destination.
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O C A D U WAY F I N D ING
9. Upon arrival to the Open Studio area there is a destination sign with a relatively dark purple background and small text indicating that the open are is Keith Muller Open Studio without a room number. This sign would be hard to see for a person with low vision and difficult to identify among other visual clutter.
Current signage seems to get lost among Scenarios 9 on the wall. other visual communication This makes room numbers hard to find.