Design Lab Podcast: How and Why Wayfinding Is More Than Just Signs
Via Collective’s Principal and Wayfinding Strategist, Katie Osborn was recently interviewed on the Design Lab with Bon Ku podcast. Their shared passion for wayfinding made for a lively and in-depth conversation. Focusing on effective wayfinding means for hospitals, transportation, and other real-life building and facilities, Katie emphasized that wayfinding is much more than just signs – and when done well, it serves as a toolkit enabling safe and comfortable experiences when people navigate and move through spaces.
Let us know what resonates most with you: As you listen to the podcast conversation, you’ll hear about the following ideas and more:
- How different sectors, including hospitals, transportation hubs, educational facilities, or city parks all require a unique approach to wayfinding as the visitors and their experiences are all different.
- How Universal and Inclusive Design are supporting, and enhancing, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is a baseline for signage code requirements.
- Research is a key part of wayfinding; by understanding and acknowledging physical, emotional, and experiential differences between how different individuals and groups will perceive a space, the wayfinding should contribute to fostering a safe space that everyone can easily navigate
- Wayfinding should be considered part of customer service and user experience – starting at the beginning of design projects and interdisciplinary collaborations
We hope you enjoy listening – and we invite you to join us for a follow-up conversation. As Katie mentioned at the end of the podcast interview, Via Collective is currently planning upcoming conversations called “intersections” with colleagues in different design and planning roles. It would be great to speak with you about participating, please contact us to learn more and be a guest!