Friday 25 March 2011
Responses to my wayfinding article on LinkedIn
Having been sat in accident and emergency with my son this morning (turns out nothing more than a bad sprain to his wrist) I began to wonder if any thought goes into wayshowing in this area.
I took some pics, yes I know, I was not supposed to have the phone on, but I just had to get pics of how useless it was. It was bad for me, how well would a visually impaired person have fared?
David Watts • I had a similar experience at Gatwick yesterday sitting in International Arrivals wondering why the main wayshowing sign as you come out of the arrivals gate is actually at 90deg to the gate so you can't see it! I didn't risk taking any pictures though!
1 day ago
john curtis • So many people involved with decisions in Hospitals and Airports for signage, Facilities, Admin, Budget, Accessibility Advocate, Security.. never right .. even when its being installed.... Environmental Graphics people really help but are not always in the budget ... its always frustrating and evolving.. We suggest visitors immediately send questions to the Admin Office/Facilities Managers.. about these subjects... * taking photos is discouraged in both hospitals and Airports/Trains/etc.. of course.. but details on the location and what you were trying to do are typically appreciated in my experience
There is usually an answer returned pretty quickly... sometimes its construction problems with hanging signs.. sometimes no research on travel paths...
The Emergency areas in Hospitals..are typically under signed .. as they want people to
stay there and talk with staff before the move ...
good topic hope we get a lot of input on this..!
19 hours ago
Mike Slater • Having just done the wayfinding for several airports and four major hospitals in the UK I know just how bad some of these environments are. In all these projects we have managed to complete a wayfinding strategy, followed by the project management of our proposals, then overseeing the information presented from signage to maps etc., then the installation. Although there is a significant cost to this exercise we can reduce this quite substantially through our expertise in this field. I find other wayfinding companies do not tackle the hidden problems but only add to it with cosmetic solutions. So in answer to your question Chris, there is a lot of thought gone into these type of areas.
19 hours ago
Dana Ginsberg • unfortunately the visually impaired are never considered on the typical signage and wayfinding that we see. People think of only blindness not the different types of visually impaired.
15 hours ago
Alastair Somerville • There's a Design Council competition about improving A&E service through good design at the moment. The low level aggravation that bad wayfinding adds to the already stressed experience is probably one factor they should consider.
15 hours ago
john curtis • I agree about the Visually Impaired which constitutes most of the Accessible Signage users.. would be interested in any research on this group.. which is of course the Tactile Signage/Text target... raised lettering .. or icons..
I took some pics, yes I know, I was not supposed to have the phone on, but I just had to get pics of how useless it was. It was bad for me, how well would a visually impaired person have fared?
David Watts • I had a similar experience at Gatwick yesterday sitting in International Arrivals wondering why the main wayshowing sign as you come out of the arrivals gate is actually at 90deg to the gate so you can't see it! I didn't risk taking any pictures though!
1 day ago
john curtis • So many people involved with decisions in Hospitals and Airports for signage, Facilities, Admin, Budget, Accessibility Advocate, Security.. never right .. even when its being installed.... Environmental Graphics people really help but are not always in the budget ... its always frustrating and evolving.. We suggest visitors immediately send questions to the Admin Office/Facilities Managers.. about these subjects... * taking photos is discouraged in both hospitals and Airports/Trains/etc.. of course.. but details on the location and what you were trying to do are typically appreciated in my experience
There is usually an answer returned pretty quickly... sometimes its construction problems with hanging signs.. sometimes no research on travel paths...
The Emergency areas in Hospitals..are typically under signed .. as they want people to
stay there and talk with staff before the move ...
good topic hope we get a lot of input on this..!
19 hours ago
Mike Slater • Having just done the wayfinding for several airports and four major hospitals in the UK I know just how bad some of these environments are. In all these projects we have managed to complete a wayfinding strategy, followed by the project management of our proposals, then overseeing the information presented from signage to maps etc., then the installation. Although there is a significant cost to this exercise we can reduce this quite substantially through our expertise in this field. I find other wayfinding companies do not tackle the hidden problems but only add to it with cosmetic solutions. So in answer to your question Chris, there is a lot of thought gone into these type of areas.
19 hours ago
Dana Ginsberg • unfortunately the visually impaired are never considered on the typical signage and wayfinding that we see. People think of only blindness not the different types of visually impaired.
15 hours ago
Alastair Somerville • There's a Design Council competition about improving A&E service through good design at the moment. The low level aggravation that bad wayfinding adds to the already stressed experience is probably one factor they should consider.
15 hours ago
john curtis • I agree about the Visually Impaired which constitutes most of the Accessible Signage users.. would be interested in any research on this group.. which is of course the Tactile Signage/Text target... raised lettering .. or icons..
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Thursday 24 March 2011
Accident & Emergency
Whilst waiting with my son in Accident and Emergency yesterday afternoon (nothing broken, just a nasty sprain to his wrist) I began to look around at the signage. Even as you walk in, although it is pretty obvious that the large wooden fronted area in front of you is reception, there is only a small sign hanging high from the ceiling and at the moment we walked in no receptionist/triage nurse. When I say obvious, of course I mean, to those who do not have any visual impairment. Even with full sight, because you are often a little panicked when you arrive at those places, you find yourself have to work a little just to register.
Then, after the initial assessment (ok, take these pain killers and when they kick in we can reassess/x-ray) it is then that you really start looking around, you have a lot of time to look around. A couple of drinks and a packet of crisps later the toilet is required. Here we go again, and to cut a long search short, you once again learn that always look at the ceiling for directions, once again it was hanging there, inconspicuous and out of the way, I guess so that it does not get in the cleaners way or is not a trip hazard.
Next, the posters that are put around, often neatly on a display area, but nowhere near where you are sat waiting, that are giving you information on how to stay healthy and how not to drink and drive, seem pointless. The only things you are looking at during your wait are the empty chair opposite you, the door through which a doctor or nurse may come calling your or your relatives name or your mobile phone. Yes the phone that you are not supposed to use, but as you can't see the poster telling you not to, you carry on texting your mates saying how cool it is to not be in school, (not me you understand). No I was using mine to take pics of the reception area, they are not great, but I was trying to be a little discrete.
So now I think I will look at these pics and see if the wayshowing could be improved and therefore increase inclusivity.
Then, after the initial assessment (ok, take these pain killers and when they kick in we can reassess/x-ray) it is then that you really start looking around, you have a lot of time to look around. A couple of drinks and a packet of crisps later the toilet is required. Here we go again, and to cut a long search short, you once again learn that always look at the ceiling for directions, once again it was hanging there, inconspicuous and out of the way, I guess so that it does not get in the cleaners way or is not a trip hazard.
Next, the posters that are put around, often neatly on a display area, but nowhere near where you are sat waiting, that are giving you information on how to stay healthy and how not to drink and drive, seem pointless. The only things you are looking at during your wait are the empty chair opposite you, the door through which a doctor or nurse may come calling your or your relatives name or your mobile phone. Yes the phone that you are not supposed to use, but as you can't see the poster telling you not to, you carry on texting your mates saying how cool it is to not be in school, (not me you understand). No I was using mine to take pics of the reception area, they are not great, but I was trying to be a little discrete.
So now I think I will look at these pics and see if the wayshowing could be improved and therefore increase inclusivity.
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| Ok, looks like a reception, but signage is only the ceiling hung one to the left of the desk. |
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| Again, main toilet sign hanging from ceiling. The toilet is actually tucked away down the dimly lit corridor. |
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| The main information poster display, behind you at reception, and a distance from the waiting area. |
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| The empty seat your often stair at. Is this where the information should be? |
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