Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
With a clear view of the problems, how do you proceed in creating meaningful solu-
tions? The designers comment: 'In order to provide people with the right information
in the right place and form, we need to assess how they create an understanding about
a place for themselves.' This is crucial to the creation, construction and implementa-
tion of a wayfinding scheme: 'This understanding can guide how a city is described
in a wayfinding system, for example which features are highlighted, which routes are
emphasized, and which wayfinding keys are used.'
So how do residents, commuters and visitors understand New York City? They have
'pockets of knowledge' limited to places they are familiar with or need to go to. A
clear picture of the city as a whole may not exist; the proximity of areas to each oth-
er and the distances between them may not be known. Research shows that we learn
about places in stages: first points; then the routes between those points, then how
those points and routes connect so we understand an area. We build our understanding
of a place piece by piece; wayfinding works to support a partial picture in becoming
a complete one.
Graphic of the brain's learning process, points/routes/areas.
Perceptions of NYC using this method.
