Studio Brief - Wayfinding primary research

After researching well established forms of good wayfinding systems, I applied my analysis onto real life forms of way finding in Leeds.

On first glance, the Leeds Art Gallery's wayfinding is clean, minimal and low impact. The typeface, size of the signs and the directional arrows don't scream at the reader. It is meant to blend in with its surroundings allowing for the art on display to draw the primary attention rather than the signage. This minimal signage design also goes along with the typical behaviour one assumes when visiting an art gallery. Being directed throughout the gallery to see all the exhibitions is useful however people take their time when visiting and like to venture their own way. Unlike signage in places such as the airport, subway or train station where reaching your final destination is the main goal. Therefore the signage is meant to be visual cues towards the reader. Along with that Leeds Gallery provide a floor plan of the exhibition to help visitors get an overview of its entirety. The colour codes help in identifying the main areas of the Gallery.

However the wayfinding system extends to more than just its own purpose. The more informative notice boards also carry the same design principles as the signage. The same typeface and open negative space. This creates consistency and uniformity throughout the gallery which reduces confusion for the reader and acts as an identifier as well.

I also noticed how the signage also reflects the minimal interior design of the exhibitions, which is common throughout most galleries. Therefore the wayfinding system in Leeds art gallery respects the art pieces on display, is more of a visual cue for the visitor and reflects the interior design of the gallery itself. So when developing a new wayfinding system, I have to consider the environment of which its placed in and the content as well.

However not everything is consistent within their signage.

Take for example these three which the signage was placed on glass panels instead of just typography on white space. These signs were placed in transitional areas in between exhibitions within the gallery. Therefore not only can a wayfinding system be an identifier in terms of delivering information but also one that associates itself to certain areas of the environment. So in terms of the Leeds Art Gallery, the signage used in the British Art Show exhibition is designed as such because of its connections to the logo. The signage above is the official signage of the Gallery itself hence the difference in design and the reason why it is in the transitional areas. 

Even from the signage itself, visitors can expect the kind of art showcased within the gallery. The sans serif typeface gives connotations of contemporary artwork. This is unlike the Henry Moore Institute which uses serif typefaces as shown below.

The use of a serif typeface communicates a sense of elegance and formality towards the Henry Moore Institute which is appropriate for the artistic achievements of Henry Moore being a revered sculptor. Being only next door to the Leeds Art Gallery, it shares the same clean minimal aesthetic. The use of this aesthetic also help create a tone of voice for both the establishments. It is a formal tone of voice which is meant to only communicate information. It is not there to engage with the visitor as the artwork on display should have that priority. Unfortunately the Insitute was closed in preparation of another exhibition during this time so those were the only pictures.

Next I went onto the Leeds City Museum which combines both typography and pictograms within their signage.

Unlike the Art Galleries more visual take on an overview, the City Museum makes use of a board which states the various points of interest on each floor.

The design is inconsistent however with each of the other signage around the museum. This could have been purposely done in separation towards the informative boards to inform the visitor of a specific area much like the signage in the Leeds Art Gallery. 

Not only that but there are even more design inconsistencies within the overall signage. Too many designs can confuse the reader as to which direction they should be going. The signs fight over each other for visual authority as a result. 

These are some more examples of the different signage that the Museum use. From this standpoint, the differing signage designs don't act as an identifier. The differentiating designs make the museum feel more complicated as a building as it is by conveying to many messages through its signage.
What I can take from this is to ensure that my wayfinding system has consistency to allow for an easier experience for the visitor to travel around.