Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Examples of interactive information design include reading a magazine on an iPad and using an
in-car navigation system.
Environmental information design
Signage is probably the first thing most people think of when talking about envir-
onmental information design, although wayfinding, exhibition design and large-scale
installations could also be included in this category.
American urban planner Kevin Lynch first used the term 'wayfinding' in his 1960
topic
Image of the City
. He used it to describe navigating through a physical envir-
onment using visual cues to orient oneself. This can incorporate signage along with
lighting and three-dimensional objects. The function of wayfinding is to inform an
audience of where they need to go, how to find it and what to do once they have
arrived. The designer must be aware of the physical limitations of an environment
and of the needs of the user. They may have to analyze the space and make informed
choices based on how real people use the area. A good example of wayfinding and
signage in practice is provided in the case study at the Design Museum Holon, Tel
Aviv, in Chapter 7.
The challenge with exhibition design is how you communicate important facts or data
to a large audience in a specific site. The material presented will have to be at a larger
scale, but it is not simply a case of making everything bigger. The designer may have
to think about the distance from which a project is viewed, where it is positioned,
even the ambient lighting conditions within that physical environment to ensure that
it is legible. It is possible to use multiple platforms to communicate, choosing print
