Wayfinding is a term associated with the mechanics of providing a person with the ability to find his or her way to a given destination or specific point within a complex facility. At CDI Solutions (a registered DBE company), our firm develops wayfinding strategies that integrate signage, art, and architectural elements with the built environment to make navigating a facility intuitive. Furthermore, our firm uses the wayfinding as an extension of the Client’s branded environment. Our goal is to make wayfinding easy for our Client’s and the people they serve.
Services
Wayfinding is purposeful navigation, helping people move through complex spaces simply and specifically. We approach wayfinding projects comprehensively, carefully considering the physical environment, organizational requirements and corporate culture, as well as user needs. Our teams knowledge-based approach to wayfinding analysis, planning, and design has improved customer experience for scores of organizations and their facilities. We provide a complete design process including the critical programming and site analysis, signage schematic design, signage design development, complete message schedules, coordination of sign location plans, and integration of environmental branding. Our methodology results in wayfinding solutions that incorporate traditional, non-traditional and digital tactics to provide critical information at key points for a successful wayfinding experience.
Programming and Site Analysis
This is the information-gathering and analysis phase of a project. A detailed look at your facility with immediate feedback about recommended next steps. This often includes review of time and budget constraints, image and branding goals, analysis of the physical characteristics of the site, discovery of circulation pathways and decision points, applicable code review, and decision making and client contact protocols. The primary goal of the programming and site analysis is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the project with the client.
Schematic Design
The primary goal of the schematic design phase is to generate and present visual concepts and informational approaches for the clients review, selection, and approval. This may include the overview of project context, key sign locations, approaches to sign message nomenclature and hierarchy, typeface and symbol options, material and color palette, and basic studies of sign forms and shapes to name a few. The schematic design activity is divergent and exploratory, with the goal of generating many ideas, concepts, and approaches to the design problem as possible. Finally coming together as these various schemes are evaluated and selected.
Design Development
The primary goal of the design development phase is to solidify and refine the conceptual direction selected during the schematic design phase, and receive client input and approval before proceeding into final documentation. This phase results in several items that convey the evolution of the information and visual aspects of the wayfinding design concept to the client. This can include development of sign location plans, message schedules, drawings showing development of sign graphics, and drawings showing development of sign hardware. This may also include study and/or presentation models, and mock-ups.
Documentation
The documentation phase expresses the wayfinding program’s design into construction documents that clearly communicate the design intent to sign fabricators who will be bidding on and then producing the wayfinding program. This phase will include final sign location plans, final message schedule, final sign graphics drawings, final hardware drawings, and technical specifications.
Environmental Branding
We believe that the brand experience should be impactful. Your brand should come to life within every space, down every hallway and around every corner. Whatever the characteristics of the space we provide a branded experience. Our team starts by discovering the core values and personalities of each client. From there, we implement brand applications and graphics systems to help people navigate through locations. The branded environment is an extension of your organization and can create a positive, memorable experience for every person who walks through your door.