Wayfinding 1.0

Considering legibility and user experience, I aim to develop a navigational system that effectively guides and aids a user through an environment. I will research into points of interest around Leeds to see if I could benefit the location using successful wayfinding design techniques.

Pictograms 

In our culture, we use symbols to warn, guide and protect, these are called pictograms. Pictograms use simplified imagery to convey a message. Successful pictograms are internationally recognisable, for example: 

Pictograms are very simple in shape and colour to make the message quick and easy to recognise and interpret. This will be a useful tool to explore when I begin my initial concepts because it's a simple and effective way to communicate.

It's important to think about semiotics when creating pictograms. The semantics of a sign is dependant on context, knowledge, society and culture which I will need to think about in order to inform my design decisions. Pictograms are extremely effective for breaking the language barrier. The toilet sign for female and male is instantly recognisable internationally and it would be a lot harder to interpret if it was purely typography.

Syntactics needs to be considered because the colour, shape, position and scale are all very important factors of design. Pictograms usually consist of just one subject on a monochromatic colour palette so it's important the syntax is consistent. 

Margaret Calvert and Jock Kinnier

Calvert was a design student when she was approached by Jock Kinnier to produce road signage. 

Initiated by the boom of transport and motorways, Kinnier and Calvert redesigned signage to suit drivers and passengers driving at higher speeds. The radical change replaced full uppercase type and replaced it with both lower and upper case. 'Transport' ultimately made the signage easier to read due to the carefully considered size, kerning and tracking. Kinnier and Calvert have taken the responsibility of the task seriously in order for people to travel safely and efficiently which is why the signage is still used today. 

After watching an interview on Creative Review's website, Calvert puts the task at hand into context, specifically at 3:50: http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2013/november/margaret-calvert-interview/
I think this is an important value to consider when producing graphic design because it creates objective, informed decisions. 

Pragmatics 

The study of the way in which context contributes to meaning. 

Indicative: 

Here, an image of a 'smoking area' sign. The pictogram inside the circle suggests smoking but considering the syntactics and semiotics it allows the viewer to decide whether they want to smoke or not, depending on their lifestyle choice, etc. The black and white colour palette doesn't suggest danger but is more informative for the audience.

Imperative:

The subject, in this case the cigarette, is crossed through with a red line, suggesting danger or caution. In this context, the audience is instructed not to smoke. In a road sign context, the concept is transferred:

Keeping the same concept throughout different contexts helps the visual language grow and become more and more recognisable. It is the simplicity and clarity of signage that makes it successful and it is reflected here in a completely new context. The strong diagonal line visually forces the imperative instruction onto the viewer. Road signage needs to be imperative because it is for road safety. 

Suggestive:

The cigarette inside the lungs suggests it's a health related sign but I think this relies more on context because it would be taken more seriously in a hospital or health pack. 

It's important that I use the correct shape for signage because it can connote different meanings, particularly with road signage.