Theatre corridor directional signage at Goods Shed Ballarat

Wayfinding guide

Wayfinding starts before the first sign

People do not experience a directory, a wall sign and a room number separately. They experience one continuous journey.

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People do not experience a directory, a wall sign and a room number separately. They experience one continuous journey.

01

Map users and destinations

Define who is navigating, where they arrive, what they already know and which destinations matter most. Visitors, staff, deliveries and emergency users may need different information while sharing the same circulation space.

02

Find the decision points

A sign is most useful just before a person needs to choose. Map entries, intersections, lift lobbies, corridor changes, car parks and final destinations. Remove unnecessary messages and repeat only what builds confidence.

03

Build a naming hierarchy

Agree on building, level, department, room and amenity names before artwork. Use plain language and keep digital, printed and spoken terminology aligned. Inconsistent naming is one of the fastest ways to make a place feel difficult.

04

Test the complete journey

Review the system from arrival to destination and back out again. Check sightlines, lighting, contrast, mounting, accessibility and information load in the actual environment, then update the schedule before rollout.

A wayfinding review is most valuable before names, room numbers and sign locations are frozen. Bring together operations, accessibility, brand and facilities stakeholders, then test the proposed journeys with people who do not already know the building. Insigns can convert those findings into an organised sign family, message schedule and location plan ready for coordination and production.

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