Hayes Wayfinding Project
School is hard, finding your way around the building shouldn’t be.
Research
Our team conducted thorough research diving deep into understanding the current wayfinding pain points in the building of Hayes Hall. Our research included a history review, reviews of other buildings, a floorplan review, surveys, a card sort, and a scenario workshop as well as a class specific workshop.
The history review brought reminders of how the building was first used. We wanted to keep the history and architecture shining through.
Reviewing other buildings allowed us to see how other wayfinding systems were implemented and their advantages and disadvantages.
The floorplan review (above) allowed us to look deeper into the space we have been occupying for years and see which spaces needed adjustment.
The surveys we sent out helped us get unbiased information about general wayfinding and specific wayfinding in Hayes Hall. We asked questions about the participants' demographics, if they have been to Hayes, where they spend time in Hayes, and what buildings were their favorite on campus. These questions led to insights about what is already working in Hayes and other buildings.
The card sort we developed helped our team to understand what aesthetics were liked and wanted in a wayfinding system. We also needed to know if people wanted a physical or digital wayfinding system. Spoiler, they wanted both.
The workshops were our last research method. We had two different types, a scenario workshop and a class workshop. For the scenario workshop, we invited people who have never been to Hayes before and asked them to navigate the space through specific scenarios. We then asked them to reflect on their experience. This provided us first hand, unbiased insights that helped shape our focus. We learned that stairs are not hard to find but the bathrooms were. These pointed out the main pain points. The second workshop focused on a specific class in Hayes. Hayes Hall is the Design Department's building. There are pre-design classes that are held here. These students are new to the building and are a main target audience. We asked them how they navigated the area when they first entered and where their favorite spots are.
Insights
- People were torn between physical and digital signage
- Stairs are easy to find while bathrooms are hard to find
- Confusion with room signage
- Rooms 234 and 334 are most commonly used with new students
Brand System
Above are the main components of the brand system. Our team chose Franklin Gothic as the typeface to use throughout. We used medium and demi fonts. Our color palette includes four bright colors, two darker colors and a charcoal. We chose a bold color palette based on our research. The icons are bold and filled in as to match the boldness of the colors. We also created figure illustrations to act as a friendly mascot throughout our system.
Above is the grid structure of the main type of sign. The number is in Franklin Gothic Demi at size 175 pt. The letters are in Franklin Gothic Medium at size 108 pt. The grid allows enough white space in between each piece of information as well as between the information and the sides of the sign. The signs are 6in x 4.5in.
Mock-Ups
Above are two door mockups in Hayes. These show the signs made and the mural aspects added.
Above is the main interface found on the first floor. It is interactive and helps the new students find their destination.
Above is the map design found on each floor. They are placed by the two main stairways in the front of the building, since this is where new students will be frequenting the most.
Above is the full sign system. Each follows the same grid as before. The letters on the blue studio signs are magnetic and can change as the studio needs change.
Above are two of the mural designs for around Hayes Hall. These are added to the building to bring some joy and personality.
