OCAD U Wayfinding - Part Two

OCAD U WAYFINDING SYSTEM PART TWO ∙ NAVIGATION PLAN

BY PO L I N A K A B A KOVA ∙ 2 4 2 5 0 8 0

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OCAD U WAYFINDING

A hallway on the 5th floor with no signage expect for the exit sign and signs on individual doors to direct a visitors of the building.

CONTENTS PAGE 4 CURRENT WAYFINDING REVIEW ORIENTATION SIGNAGE EXPRESS ELEVATOR DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE DESTINATION SIGNAGE SYSTEM CONSISTENCY PAGE 7 NEW SIGNAGE TYPES ORIENTATION SIGNAGE DIRECTION SIGNAGE DESTINATION SIGNAGE PAGE 8 NEW SIGNAGE LOCATIONS 1ST FLOOR 5TH AND 6TH FLOORS PAGE 10 SECTIONAS AND DIRECTION SIGNAGE 5TH FLOOR 6TH FLOOR

contents

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CURRENT WAYFINDING REVIEW The current OCAD U’s wayfinding system is missing large components that are required to make a wayfinding system successful. Orientation signage on the 5th and 6th floor as well as directional signage.

Elevators are not labeled on the 5th and 6th floors and on the ground floor the orange plaques labeling one elevator as express and the second as regular do not seem to be as affective as they would be if they were places at the user eye level.

The destination signage is present, however it is apparent that it was not part of the original system since the laminated print outs of room numbers appear to be tentative replacement.

Overall the system lacks a unity. This makes signs difficult to spot amongst posters and other visual information present in the university's building.

Bellow is a more detailed exploration of the flaws of the current wayfinding system as well as an account of the building particularities. Close examination of this information will aid in the creation of a functional wayfinding system.

O R I E N TAT I O N S I G N A G E There are two building directory maps(1)(2) as well as a campus map(2) in the main lobby of OCAD U. However, these maps appear to contain a lot of unrelated information and a few errors. The legend is missing a few room names, the print shop is labeled in the wrong (outdated) location. Additionally, the necessity of the campus map inside the main building is questionable.

The Sharp Centre is missing any sort of orientation signage which makes it difficult to locate rooms, offices and other important locations.

A visitor could attempt to orient themselves by using classroom numbers. However, for that to work the rooms must be numbered in a strictly sequential order that can be easily understood. Also, the large open studio areas(3) make it difficult to use room numbers as a navigation aid since the large open spaces are not numbered.

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OCAD U WAYFINDING

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DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE

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The only directional piece of signage(2) in the OCAD U's wayfinding system is located in the hallway behind the main lobby on the left of the regular elevator(1) and it is pointing towards the express elevator in the lobby.

There is no signage in the lobby or a single indicator on the floor plan displayed in on the right of the express elevator(4) that suggests the existence of an elevator that stops at all floors. This creates a false perception that the staircase(5) is the only way to get to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors and the spiral staircase(6) an alternate way to access the 2nd floor of the building. Both staircases are not appropriate for a disabled user.

The sign that indicates that the elevator in the lobby only goes to the 5th and 6th floors(3) is extremely high up and is not easily spotted.

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D E S T I N AT I O N S I G N A G E

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The destination signage is present in the OCAD U's wayfinding system.

The Print Shop(1) and Laptop Help Desk(2) are identified with hanging signage that work well as it is visible from afar. However, these signs look hand made and do not seem to be part of a bigger system.

The official signs that are used for open studios(4) and some classrooms and other parts of the building(3) do not bare room numbers and employ colors that don't seem to facilitate the wayfinding in any way.

Each room(6) has a laminated printed sheet attached to it which has the room number, faculty and special name displayed on it. The stairways(7) are labeled in a similar manner. This is functional yet the signs look tentative and blend in with student posters and other information on the wall.

Finally, the washrooms employ an easily identifiable washroom symbol(8) located on the door of the washroom.

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current wayfinding review

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OCAD U WAYFINDING

A stairway on the left side of the lobby and a door to fist floor classrooms with a fire annunciator graphic above the security desk

NEW SIGNAGE TYPES O R I E N TAT I O N S I G N A G E There must be a building directory with floor plans of the two floors of the Sharp Centre in the main lobby of OCAD U as well as on the 5th and 6th floors.

The labels on the floor maps must include the room and open studio numbers.

User’s current location, elevators and washrooms should be identified with symbols on the floor plan. Room and open studio names, faculty of design office, print shop and laptop help desk will be found in the legend besides the map along side a corresponding room number.

DIRECTION SIGNAGE Directional signage should be present at each decision point and include the room numbers and names as well as the names of important offices and rooms.

The directional signage will indicate what room numbers are on the left and on the right of the sign as well as the directions towards the nearest washrooms, exits and major locations around the school (ex. Print Shop). Additionally, OCAD U needs clear and visible signage for the regular and express elevators.

D E S T I N AT I O N S I G N A G E There will be three types of destination signage - major destination signage, minor destination signage and room number plaques on each of the classrooms.

Major destination signage will include major offices (Faculty of Design office), Laptop Help Desk, Print Shop and open studios. While the minor destination signage will include washrooms, stairs and elevators(regular and express). Room number plaques will be placed outside of each door and contain the room number as well as the name of the room.

current wayfinding review

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NEW SIGNAGE LOCATIONS Variety of different types of signs will be used in the new wayfinding system. The consistency will be maintained though the similar type treatment, and color scheme and icons where appropriate.

The orientation signs will be a large format maps places on the wall in front or besides the elevators. The directional signage will be hanging at the intersection so different plane is shown depending on where the visitor is approaching from. The destination signs for open studios as well as the print shop will be hanging as well but unlike other direction signage will display the same information from both sides. Minor destination signs will employ symbols.

LEGEND -

orientation sign (ex. building directory) directional sign (room number pointer) major destination sign (studios, offices) minor destination sign (washrooms, stairs, elevators) room number signs

1 ST F L O O R

Building directory All floors

Stairway to all floors Building directory All floors

Pointer to Express Elevator Regular Elevator

Express Elevator Pointer to Regular Elevator

Fire annunciator graphics

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OCAD U WAYFINDING

5 TH F LO O R

Overhead Open Studio Signage

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Floor plan (only 5th floor) Regular Elevator Pointer to Express Elevator

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Overhead Open Studio Signage

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Overhead Open Studio Signage

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552 Stairway to the 6th floor

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Overhead Open Studio Signage

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Express Elevator Stairway to all floors Pointier to Regular Elevator Floor plan (only 5th floor) Faculty of Design Offices

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6 T H F LO O R Overhead Open Studio Signage

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Print Shop Singage Laptop Help Desk Signage

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Floor plan (only 6th floor) Regular Elevator Pointer to Express Elevator

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Stairway to the 5th floor

Overhead Open Studio Signage

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Stairway to all floors Express Elevator Pointier to Regular Elevator Floor plan (only 6th floor)

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new signage

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SECTIONS AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE Each of the floors is divided into six sections where each of the sections are located between major decision points. This division makes finding room numbers within the section easier.

The directional sign will provide the user with the information of what sections and room numbers can be found on the left and right side of the sign. The section will be shown as a small block of color on the sign and the room number range will be provided right besides the color block. The mock up signs bellow only show the color circles while the actual sign will show the room number ranges as well as the important locations such as the Print Shop and washrooms.

The one sided signs will be posted on the wall. The two sided sigange will be displayed overhead as one double sided sign. The three sided signs will also appear overhead but will be composed of three planes connected together in a triangular construction.

5 TH F LO O R

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OCAD U WAYFINDING

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LEGEND -

section one (5th floor rooms 500–509) or (6th floor rooms 600–609) section two (5th floor rooms 510–519) or (6th floor rooms 610–619) section three (5th floor rooms 520–539) or (6th floor rooms 620–639) section four (5th floor rooms 540–549) or (6th floor rooms 640–649) section five (5th floor rooms 550–559) or (6th floor rooms 650–659) section six (5th floor rooms 560–569) or (6th floor rooms 660–669)

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6 T H F LO O R

new signage

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OCAD U WAYFINDING