Final Outcome 02 | Resign Wayfinding System For London Underground

RESIGN LONDON UNDERGROUND WAYFINDING SYSTEM Project Brief An investigation into inclusive spatial design, with the aim of designing a wayďŹ nding system that considers people who are in need.

Purpose My objective is to improve the current wayďŹ nding system and increase the accessibility of the London Underground station by applying an accessible graphic design technique with a multi-sensory approach. Such as improving help point design by giving an audio signal to the blind traveller, redesigning maps and guides with Braille signage and tactile touch, considering user experience and suggest a better solution for the current audio guide, designing a set of universal visual language for the platform and improving station safety, etc.

In order to create an effective communication, my project will focus on visual, audible, tactile and olfactory elements.

INITIAL IDEAS

DESIGNING A SIGN SYSTEM

Sign System

Accessible Wayfinding System

The wayfinding process involves a series of decisions. This sign system aims to get to users’ destinations without frustration by using signages.

In order to assist people with special needs, I had applied multi-sensory elements in my design, including audible and tactile objects.

GRAPHIC STANDARDS

Signage Element Colours

Typography

Primary Logo

London Transport has four safety colour, including blue, red, yellow and green. I would like to suggest a clear deďŹ nition of different safety colours. Blue for information. Yellow for warming. Red for danger. Green for exit and route.

New Johnston Medium is the corporate typeface of the London Transport, designed by Edward Johnston. In my opinion, the lettering of the sign system should remain the same in order to make the identity looks consistent and familiar.

The roundel was redesigned by Edward Johnston in 1913. The roundel should be placed on a white square background.

BRAILLE Braille Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. Braille is created by Louis Braille in 1829. It is traditionally written with embossed paper.

In many countries, it is required for braille to be present in certain signs for accessibility reasons, such as oor buttons inside the lift. In order to increase the accessibility of London Transport and to guide visually impaired person, I suggest integrating braille into signages, such as expanding usage of braille in directory board and directional signages.

The application of braille is not just appearing in the text, but also illustrations and graphs.

Braille is not the only thing to appear in braille text.

There may be embossed illustrations and graphs, with the lines either solid or made of series of dots, arrows, bullets that are larger than braille dots, etc.

MATERIALS AND COLOUR CONSIDERATION People with special needs Individuals with mobility disabilities might need to use walking aids or wheelchairs. People who have visual impairment might need a guide path.

In the project, I will consider different design element that could improve user experiences, such as colour contrast, typography, size, materials, placement, viewing distance and technological enhancement.

In colour combinations testing, I found a big contrast can increase the legibility of letters from a distance, which is suitable for my wayďŹ nding project.

Meanwhile, I would like to explore different possibilities of the guide path materials.

AUDIBLE ELEMENTS Digital Screen I found visual impairment travellers do not have equal access to information regarding public transportation, including details about arrivals, departures as well as destination recognition in the platform.

Therefore, my suggestion is to improve the current display with a digital screen and audio podcasts about details information of the train, for example, the next train will arrive in 3 minutes, so that the visual impairment traveller can also know how long they have to wait.

WAYFINDING PROCESS

Orientation

- Directory Maps

Route Decision - Path Design

Route Monitoring - Directional Signage

Destination Recognition - Wall and Floor Marking

MAPS

Maps

Consideration

I designed the King’s Cross St Pancras map with the aim of helping travellers to see the entire station and to understand their surroundings.

My maps considered people with special needs.

I designed a black and white tactile map with half-tone design elements.

PATH DESIGN

Path Design

Tactile guide path

King’s Cross St Pancras station is a very complicated station with 8 platforms and more than 10 exits. I hope visitors can choose their route confidently and follow the guide path.

The tactile guide path is designed to help people with visual impairment find the way out by following the tactile mark on the floor.

DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE Directional Signage This is an example of a redesigned directional signage. In the western countries, Left-aligned type is easiest for people to read quickly, because people have a habit of reading from left to right.

My job was to reduce confusion by removing unnecessary information on the directional signage.

SIGNAGE HIERARCHY Directional Signage In order to reduce confusion, I added a numbering system on the directional signage for all exits throughout my works.

My work avoid using long sentence because in my opinion, an effective signs should communicate a clear message with understandable language.

I also added inclusive design elements, including tactile information, directional arrows and braille.

COLOUR BLINDING TESTING Colour Blindness Simulator In order to understand people who are suffering from colour vision deficiency. I did a colour test with my work and see if my work still readable. I tested with Monochromatic, Trichromatic and Dichromatic perspective and it does work.

FLOOR MARKING

Caution Marking

Priority Marking

Luggage Marking

To deliver a caution message of “mind your step” with floor marking and audio reminder.

To show the priority area and to let people with disability to use the facility first.

To inform travellers which carriage can put luggage and have a bigger space.

ICONS

ICONS Icons are useful communication method that can represent a facility, object and service. In the wayfinding system, icons help visitors to identify a place and prevent potential hazards. It can simplify a large amount of information into small and simple visuals or icons.

The image on the left shows the current icons of the London Underground. These icons are filled with corporate blue colour. During my ideas developing process, I tried to redesign icons with the outline. However, I found my design is too different from the London Underground’s identity, therefore I didn’t apply it the signage design.

CARRIAGE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Priority Signages This is an example of the redesigned priority signages. It can be applied on the surface of the special needs carriage. Meanwhile, I suggest to make the ďŹ rst seat next to the door into priority seat and change the colour from corporate blue to safety blue, in order to make the priority seat stand out, and hopefully can server people who are in needed.