Emily Badger explores the art of environmental graphic design, or wayfinding, and what it takes to strike the right balance between intuitive navigation and individual discovery.
Badger makes a distinction between intuitive older European cities and complex contemporary cities that require guidance to navigate, and the often subconscious ways in which wayfinding should operate on the latter.
"Architectural signage and wayfinding isn't about building a nicely designed sign," says Sue Labouvie, one such expert whom we tapped to explain the science of helping us find our way in the city. "It's about the information content and the analysis of the space or place that you're trying to move people through, and coming up with a strategy of how you make this big complex thing simple and understandable to the user."
FULL STORY: The Surprisingly Complex Art of Urban Wayfinding
California Bill Would Mandate Seamless Transit
With 27 transit agencies, traveling across the Bay Area can be a daunting task. Advocates for 'seamless transit' want to change that.
Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding Program Set to Launch
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission awarded $1.4 million to the city of Pittsburgh to launch the Pittsburgh Pedestrian Wayfinding initiative.
'OK Google, How Crowded is the Number 8 Bus?'
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
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Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
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As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)