Wayfinding has existed since man identified a need to find his bearings as he travelled for food, shelter or safety. In architecture, Wayfinding also refers to the user experience of orientation and choosing a path within the built environment, and to the set of architectural and/or design elements that aid orientation. Wayfinding programs can range from landmarks used to guide travelers to their destination, to signs along the road, interior and exterior signage to help one navigate through a space with ease. The term “Wayfinding” is a derivation of the words “wayfarer” and “wayfaring”. Both of these words exist in Old English; “wayfaring” (archaic) was first recorded in 1536 AD, whereas an older version of the word, “wayfering” (obsolete) can be traced back to 890 AD. The word means “journeying” or “travelling”, particularly on foot. Another term of possible influence is “pathfinder”, a word of North-American origin that can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth
century.
An alternative definition of “Wayfinding”, focusing only on its the visual aspects comes from J.E. Cutting (1996), who defines it as “how people find their way through cluttered environments with ease and without injury.” Therefore, this article will cover the following topics related to Wayfinding:
- Shaping the Corporate Culture Through Wayfinding
- Shaping the Visitor Experience Through Wayfinding
- Understanding the Wayfinding Process and Key Elements
- The Overall Planning Process
- Ensuring You Have the Right Budget
