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Understanding cardiac arrest and emergency response following Damar Hamlin’s collapse during Monday Night Football

DALLAS, January 3, 2023 —While playing in the Buffalo Bills - Cincinnati Bengals game on Monday Night Football on January 2, Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after a hit and was administered CPR on the field before being transferred to...




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Federal spending bill is a net positive for public health

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8, 2024 — The American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health that is celebrating its centennial birthday this year, issued the following statement in response to Congress’...




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The Wayfinding Handbook

The book describes everything you need to know to get started as graphic designer in the world of environmental graphic design. The writer David Gibson is a highly respected wayfinding designer and principal of graphic design firm Two Twelve, New York

A manual for students, teachers, professionals, and clients.

This is exactly what this book is about, easy readable and recognizable for everybody to read and learn wayfinding design. I have read this book with great pleasure and using it as a reference manual in my daily activities.

Information Design for Public Places

In the first chapter the book describes the history of wayfinding and the spectrum of projects, which you will learn about the different areas wayfinding designers work in. There are several great examples of wayfinding projects shown and Gibson takes it deeper into the structure of projects and where the wayfinding designers fits in. Every chapter features a page written by people from the industry, making this book great fun to read and you will get different perspectives on the topics.

Design Process

As wayfinding designer there are many different kind of signs needed in a project, from small toilet signs to large boxed letters on the roof of the building. To enhance the wayfinding system all signs need to interact which each other in order to let them work together effectively. The book describes many different type of signs and explains about strategic planning and information graphic design. With several examples on how to document a wayfinding system this part really stands out in the book.

Wayfinding design

In the section wayfinding design, Gibson talks about typography, layout, symbols, color, materials and media. This section is a great learning experience to create signage & wayfinding design. With an very interesting page from Jonathan Hoefler on type design, legibility, purpose and wayfinding design these chapters will make you want to create wayfinding design!

Practical tips

The last section of the book takes you into how wayfinding projects are initiated and what the requirements should be in order to select a wayfinding designer. I especially enjoyed the part about documentation and fabrication, one of the most essential parts of creating a good manual for a wayfinding project.

Conclusion

Personally I enjoyed reading this book very much, it is easy to read, recognizable, short stories but with an edge to keep it clean and simple. Each chapter starts with a small introduction and a line about Learn About, where you quickly see what to expect from this section in the book. As said above the different insights from other people in the industry makes this book a great reference guide into wayfinding design. What I love about this book that it is written for everybody. If you are into environmental graphic design, signage/wayfinding than this is the book for you!

The Wayfinding Handbook is a complete guide to the discipline, from planning and design to practical considerations, such as setting up teams and managing projects.

Information

  • Publisher: A Princeton Architectural Press publication
  • Language: English
  • ISBN 9781568987699
  • In print (publication date 3/1/2009)

Buy The Wayfinding Handbook

Get started in wayfinding and read the handboek.

Buy at Amazon




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Apps for City Wayfinding

Orientation and navigation in a unknown city can be hard, can these wayfinding apps help you along?

Exploring unknown cities for business or pleasure, for me, is always a joyful experience, walking around and getting into the city will enlighten your vision and makes you connect to the culture. Visiting the beautiful and exciting elements a city has to offer makes your trip an unforgettable visit. Getting information on how to get around in a city is essential for easy orientation and navigation.

Actually one of the most important factors that you will remember after visiting a city is how did you get around.

What items did you use to navigate through a city? How did public transport interacts with the navigation possibilities that you have? What was your feeling and with the items you used to navigate and did you find your way? Where did you get your information from and was it sufficient enough?

All of these questions make or break a your vision on city exploration.

Exploring a unknown city

When visiting a city there are different ways you can get there and after arriving you need to know where you are in the spatial environment in order to locate yourself and make decisions on where to go next. The provided information at that point of entry is critical for easy city exploration, if the provided information is insufficient, you might turn the wrong way and not finding the locations you want or need to visit. Going the wrong way increases feelings of disorientation, distraction and anxiety. The feeling that you are loosing time on exploring a city trip is one of the worst psychological emotions you experience.

City information

When visiting a new city is can be useful to check the cities website and obtain information about:

  • Public transport and available connections between the various transportation services
  • Getting a map of the city and locate your hotel, maybe even plan a trip from your city point to entry to the hotel
  • Maybe plan your trip via google maps and mark all the points your want to visit
  • Opening hours of the facilities you want to visit
  • I’m that kind of guy that doesn’t do any of the suggested items as described above… I just try to explore the city using my senses and trying to find where I need to go next. Sometimes this is a great and joyful experience, sometimes it causes disorientation and arguments with the people I travel with at that time.

Orientation and navigation in an unknown city

When using your senses to guide yourself in a unknown environment you need eye-level directional information and possibly a map to locate and navigate through the city. City often uses directional signs on streets to point you in the right direction and sometimes information panels are providing you with an orientation overview. In future posts I will go deeper into pedestrian navigation and city wayfinding. Other forms of navigation is through a mobile phone powered with for instance Google Maps or specific applications enhanced to bring you information about the city you want to visit.

City marketing and visitors information

As city marketing is the nr. 1 way of promoting your city, providing information to the visitors is also part of the branding strategy. Currently many cities worldwide are producing mobile applications to improve the visitors experience and this will make it easier to navigate through a city. I have compiled a list of iPhone applications which will let you navigation through a city using your own personal map.




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Wayfinding Tools

In this article I’ve compiled a list of most important tools that I use to design, create and produce signage, wayfinding and other related design products.

Top 10 of most important tools

  • The Fundamentals of Typography – A great book full of examples about designing with type.
  • Stanley Tape Rule – Made of steel, one of the most important hand tools I use to quickly measure something.
  • Stainless steel ruler – Excellent for measuring narrow size items, exact to the millimeter.
  • Steel caliper – To measure the distance between two symmetrically opposing sides and to measure the thickness of materials.
  • AcrySign color samples – Material color may differ from standard color systems like Pantone, therefore I use a sample chain to check the color.
  • PANTONE Color Bridge Coated – Pantone Color Matching System (PMS) is the worlds standard color usage system, can’t live without it. Most design studios (graphic) work with PMS.
  • Sikkens RAL – A color system mainly used used for paint colors. On of the most popular color is RAL 9010 (white).
  • Black permanent Fineliner – Using it all day for writing, designing, quick scketches and more. Using dozens of them.
  • Srewdriver – The small srewdriver represents a variety of machinery used to develop & create signage systems.
  • Calculator – To use for design calculations, mathematic relations, finance and more.

More items on the list

To complete the manufacturing part at the company we use various machinery like: Vinyl cutter & plotter, laser engraving, laser cutting and CNC engraving machinery. The design elements are developed with the Adobe Design Suite CS3, we especially work with Adobe Illustrator which is the probably best professional drawing program (in my opinion) for creating vector based design & signage systems. Other programs like Autocad and specific engraving software are used to manufacture the products. We make use of 3rd parties for painting jobs and creating metal structures.

More tools and assets

  • Wayfinding Tools and Assets
  • Learning content
  • Online courses
  • Used by design professionals

Learn more about our tools

Our wayfinding design tools and assets will elevate your life as wayfinding designer.

Wayfinding Tools →




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City Wayfinding Havana

The Cuba that we know is a very restricted, communism country. Yet was striking to see that environmental graphic design and wayfinding are thought well through. From a propaganda point of reference, it is understandable to communicate on a physical street level to interact with the local community. Everywhere in the city slogans from the Fidel regime are painted on the walls.

But, what was noticeable was the city wayfinding. A comprehensive wayfinding system is implemented throughout Havana. This article will feature the characteristics of the Havana city wayfinding system.

Streets and signs of Cuba

The street life in Cuba is a great contrast to the Western world. The atmosphere is authentic and feels like a movie from the fifties. The streets of Havana, the small way of living and the local customs puts our every day life (what we take for granted) in perspective.

Typography, color and symbol signs

The consistency in placement, readability of text, arrows usage and symbol signs are balanced and it seems there is a graphic standard in place. We tried to determine who designed the wayfinding system and we would be interested knowing which agency or authority designed this. If you know who designed the Havana city wayfinding please let us know (see contact details below).

Overall the city wayfinding system in Havana gave a good experience of the city and was a guidance along the tourist attractions.

With the help of typographic tools we discovered the typeface used in the signs; Traffic Type Spain. The font has an authentic look and feel and fits well into the Cuban environment. The arrow design seems to originating from the Aiga Symbol Sign collection. The symbol signs referring to museums, parks and memorials seems to a familiarity with standardized symbol signs collections.

Traffic Type Spain Standard (D)

Originally, the font “Traffic Type Spain” designed in the pre-digital area around eighties. Then there were no ready to use outline fonts and to manufacture traffic signs they had to cut letterings by hand or manually compose them from single stamp letters.
URW developed sign-making software called SIGNUS, the first of its kind used to cut letters and logo in vinyl. Due the popular demand of SIGNUS, URW designed the digital outline fonts for road signs for European countries.

Under the technical direction of Peter Karow, URW led the world in developing digital font technology. Its IKARUS suite of font digitization tools and file format standards handles fonts as bitmaps, as grey scale (anti-aliased bitmaps), as vector outlines, and as curved outlines.
The fonts are designed specific to country regulations. The artwork for the fonts was mostly provided the sign-making companies who would produce the traffic letterings for the corresponding governmental traffic offices. The digital production and completion of the character set was done at URW.

The name “Traffic Type Spain” was given by URW. They named them all “Traffic Type” plus the country, like Traffic Type Sweden, Traffic Type Luxembourg, etc. This meant that the font was officially used to produce the traffic signs in for instance Spain.

We can only imagine why the Spanish variant is chosen for the sign system, it could have been an accidental choice or something to do with the Cuba history or Spanish influence. We estimate the wayfinding system was implemented about ten years ago and have regular updates.

More about the font

The font “Traffic Type Spain” and other country related fonts are available via URW++ website. Below you will also find a reference to Ikarus Typography Software used to digitize paper fonts for digital use.

Special thanks to Peter Rosenfeld of URW++ Design & Development GmbH for contributing to this article with background details and information about the font Traffic Type Spain.




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Introduction to wayfinding

Orientation and navigation

Navigation from place to place is a fundamental human activity and an integral part of everyday life. Where are you? Where are you heading to? People use their knowledge and previous experiences to find their way in the built environment. The human perception of the built environment and information in a space comes down to balance and focus. What do you see? Why did you see it? What did you do with the information.

Wayfinding principles

Wayfinding has the function to inform people of the surroundings in the (unfamiliar) built environment, it is important to show information at strategic points to guide people into the right directions. Complex structures in the built environment are interpreted and stored by the human memory. Distances, locations and time may be remembered differently than as they appear to be in reality.

An effective wayfinding system is based on human behavior and consists of the following characteristics:

  • Do not make them think
    Create a comprehensive, clear and consistent visual communication system with concise messaging.
  • Show only what is needed
    Show information that is relevant to the space, location and / or navigation path.
  • Remove excessive information
    Remove unnecessary elements to create a clear visual environment ahead.

How does wayfinding work?

How do people orientate, navigate or remember the built environment? Why will people recognize or understand one place easier than another? As shown in the images on the left, a geographical map versus cognitive (mental) map = reality versus human mental memory. When creating a wayfinding scheme the following characteristics influences the way we interpreted the built environment.

  • Landmarks
    To create a legible environment it is necessary to mark specific spaces and / or locations. This reinforces the recognition of places and plays a part in overseeing a larger area. With the use of landmarks and marking elements an area will become more visible and will be understand better in the human memory. Landmarks can be art-objects, buildings, streetart, wayfinding signs or striking elements in a landscape. These elements combined will shape the identity of an (unknown) area as seen from your perspective.
  • Orientation
    In order to navigate, you need to know where you are in the built environment and where other destinations are located. Preferable it is good to know the distance in time from one place to another. If you are able to orientate yourself within the built environment, it will be easier to understand destinations and to navigate by landmarks. In wayfinding, maps are common used to indicate your location. The usage of maps is a very powerful way of expressing and overseeing the built environment. Be sure to display the maps heads-up in the direction you are facing, this way you can easy relate yourself to the built environment.
  • Navigation
    Navigating the physical reference to a particular area, setting or destination. With the usage of directional (static) signs people will be guided along their path towards destination(s).

Strategic wayfinding design

When creating a signage system for an area, building or architectural structure it is essential to develop a strategic wayfinding scheme. With this step you are able to build up a modular wayfinding system that will adapt to the built environment and the human expectations for orientation and navigation purposes. Research is an important step to understand the built environment and where information is needed to maximize legibility of the wayfinding system.

Signage design principles

There are four important type of signs: Information signs, for instance a signpole with locate a destination and / or to orientate yourself in the built environment.
Directional signs, where information is displayed to find destinations, located on several strategic points in the built environment.
Identification signs, where information about individual locations is displayed such as buildings, locations and public facilities.
Warning signs, to indicate safety procedures such as a fire escape routes, no smoking areas and other regulations that is, or is not allowed in a specific area.

To make a signage system work together a design grid is used to order information and to scale the signs to different sizes, as part of the sign family. With the example design I have used a base grid of 30 mm (milimeters) with a subdivision of 9. All the measurements of the example are based on the 9×9 division. Be careful not to show too much information into one sign, this will be easily overlooked, instead use multiple signs to get good wayfinding results.

Signage typeface

A signage typeface is usually a sans-serif type and available in various weights with a simple easy-to-read straightforward design. They have a good legibility with a large X-Height and wide letter proportions with prominent ascenders / descenders to ensure a good readability.

When using an easy-to-read font the typeface is recognizable for many people to read and to understand the message clearly. Therefore the choice of a signage typeface is one of the keyfactors in order to make a wayfinding system work. When selecting a typeface for a signage design / wayfinding project please use the following characteristics:

  • A clear and straightforward type design, sans-serif
  • Easy recognizable letterforms
  • Positive letter spacing to enhance the visual appearance
  • The Font Family includes a package of many different weights
  • The typeface has a large X-height for good readability

Signage design

Be consistent in typography, type height, icons, grid design, color and material choice. The signs needs to be straight forward designed and in a consistent order to wayfinding scheme, always use the same order of displaying the information. Remember to make samples of the different sign types and check them in the built environment to ensure it becomes a best-practice design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is wayfinding?

Wayfinding is the catalyst in the public space by displaying information focused on the end-user. Wayfinding encompasses all ways of people how to orientate, navigate and discover its surroundings. Read more on creating a comprehensive and bespoke wayfinding system.




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Wayfinding > wayshowing

The first edition was sold out for a long time and was considered as the industry reference book for everything wayshowing, wayfinding and signs related.

About Per Mollerup

Wayshowing > Wayfinding is written by Per Mollerup (1942), a Danish Designer and Professor of Communication Design who has designed numerous wayshowing and branding projects for airports, transit, culture institutions and more. His design studio Designlab closed in 2009, and Mollerup currently is a professor at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Dr. Per Mollerup still works with consulting concerning branding and wayshowing— and he has defined industry standards strategies for wayfinding and wayshowing.

Design principles according to Mollerup “Research is search for knowledge. Design research, search for knowledge about design are part of all professional design work.”

Introduction to W>W

Wayshowing > Wayfinding is divided into three main parts, that describes wayfinding problems, principles and practices. The books principles have been revised and updated with digital signage principles.

The first part of the book describes the basic principles of wayfinding, Signage without signs. Finding and identifying places and the way through natural, intuitive elements. The second part of the book describes wayfinding as ‘A problem solving process’. Mollerup then explains about the principles of wayshowing. The third part of the book covers 25 new showcases including airports, rail, city, culture and more.

Wayfinding

The term wayfinding introduced by Kevin Lynch in book Image of the City (1960), where he described wayfinding as “a consistent use and organization of definite sensory cues from the external environment”. In 1992 Arthur and Passini published the book Wayfinding-People, Signs, and Architecture. Arthur & Passini extended the concept of the term wayfinding by relating it to architecture and signage— and described the essential principles for wayfinding.

In the book W>W Per Mollerup builds upon this knowledge, introducing a three step iterative wayfinding process; “Search, Decision, Motion”.
The chapters about wayshowing > wayfinding describe the research steps for planning and defining a wayfinding strategy. The nine described wayfinding strategies reflect environmental conditions, user needs, cognitive behavior and wayfinding practice.

Wayshowing

Wayshowing facilitate the wayfinding strategies as described in the first chapters of the book. Mollerup describes the characteristics of wayshowing and shows examples of its use.
For all wayshowing projects, Mollerup suggests a balance between two contrasting principles. Simplicity vs redundancy. These chapters describes the functional goals of simplicity and how redundancy can lead to less noise, errors or misunderstanding.

Sign functions, contents and form

After theoretical chapters W>W describes sign functions, contents and form. Everything you want to know related to identification, direction, description and regulation is described, these chapters will give insight on how to design for a wayshowing project. These chapters also offer many examples on legibility, color contrast, typography, pictograms, arrows and more. The content in these chapters are updated from the previous version with new content about performance, digital signage and wayfinding insights.

Interactive wayshowing

New chapters include Interactive Wayshowing. In the increasingly changing world, digital tools are used more and more for wayfinding purposes. The new chapters describe the digital spectrum and how digital tools can work efficiently in a wayshowing scheme.

Cases

About one third of the book is reserved for principles applied in practice. A showcase of best-practice design in six categories ranging from Airports, Rail, City, Knowledge, Culture and Outdoor. The cases include (traditional) static sign systems— as well as digital wayfinding examples.
The projects are by design studios from around the world— and give insight on how wayfinding strategies are applied for designing clear, concise and informative environments.

Conclusion

If you have any interest in designing and planning for the build environment/public space— this is the book for you! I believe the content of W>W is relevant for designers, EGD designer, urban planners, architects, engineers, teachers, students, clients and many more. As the physical and digital environments move close towards each other, applying a wayfinding strategy is applicable for offline/online marketing, communication and information distribution.

Overall the book is a learning book to understand how people experience and navigate in Terra Incognita. The chapters are accessible and with many steps/examples you can implement strategies in your own thinking for developing wayfinding.
If you already own Wayshowing 2005, you might want to consider updating to W>W. The new edition offers enough new content, principles and practices to learn from.

The case studies are fresh, and inspiring which, creates a visual interpretation of the wayfinding strategies as describes in the W>W book.

Availability W>W

Wayshowing > Wayfinding is limited available, see the link below to obtain a copy.

Information

  • Publisher: Bis Publishers
  • Language: English
  • ISBN: 978-90-6369-323-7
  • Hardcover, paperback, Pages: 240

Buy Wayshowing > Wayfinding

This book is simply one of the best books about wayfinding.

Buy at Amazon




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What is a user-first approach in wayfinding?

What is wayfinding?

Wayfinding is a design profession that requires multidisciplinary skills ranging from psychology, the study of human behavior, research in the built environment to strategy and design.

To develop a wayfinding scheme we start by looking at the end-user needs and requirements at each stage of the user-journey. The goal of a wayfinding scheme is to create a network of information, by showing the right information at the right time focused around the end-user.

How to map the user needs and requirements?

In order to understand the user in relation to the built environment, path and surroundings. We need to gather information from the user. What needs and requirements does the user have and how does the journey path look like.

In order to map the user-journey we look at the following steps to gather information:

  • Define the end-user groups, e.g. visitor, student, tourist, patient, commuter, supplier, guest, etc.
  • Field research, study the behaviour of the user(s) and map out their movements and modes of transportation
  • Identify issues in wayfinding and define potential opportunities for improving the user-experience
  • Look for accessibility issues and survey users to get a full understanding of their needs and requirements

Wayfinding strategy

The next step in the wayfinding approach is to define a information hierarchy. Show only what is needed and remove excessive information. Provide consistent information across all media and reveal options along the user-journey stages.

In this step the needs and requirements are put into the information hierarchy. To create a unique and seamless user journey experience by showing sorting the information in a logical order. This results in a comprehensive and bespoke wayfinding system where visitors can orientate, navigate and discover its surroundings.

Design for All concept

Accessibility is an important factor to consider this includes the following items to consider:

  • Respectful, the wayfinding should respect the diversity of users
  • Safe, it should be free of risks to all users
  • Functional, wayfinding should be able to orientate, navigate, identify and discover
  • Comprehensible, a integrated approach to wayfinding design
  • Appealing, emotional and socially acceptable
  • Sustainable, misuse of natural resources should be avoided

Key takeaways

By following these guidelines you will be able to map out the user needs and requirements. Focus the information at the end-user to create a unique and seamless experience.

  • Map the user journey and seek for issues and opportunities at every stage of the journey
  • Develop a wayfinding strategy focused at the end-user
  • Make use of the Design for All concept




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Early wayfinding maps

A unique ancient map of the Mesopotamian world. Babylonian, about 700-500 BC. Image courtesy of The British Museum.

Early wayfinding map

Early map creating represents a significant step forward in the intellectual development of knowledge for the human race. The information and maps were used as tools and could be passed on from one generation to another. Early maps are not geographical correct, but maps to capture the observers spatial knowledge of a space as a cognitive map. These maps contained the characteristics of that particular space and that could be remembered by humans, such as paths, landmarks, nodes, mountains, sea and areas.

One of the oldest maps of the Mesopotamian World dates back to around 500-700 BC. This is a unique ancient carved tablet that contains a cuneiform inscription (early written expression) and Babylon is drawn in the middle. Also, other places are mentioned such as Assyria and Elam. Around the centre is a circular waterway described as 'Salt-Sea' and the outer rim of the sea is surrounded with about eight regions. The regions contained marked signs or are labeled with names as 'Region' or 'Island', interestingly the distances are marked between the regions.

Over time maps became increasingly accurate and a universal tool for communication. Regardless of language or culture maps are mostly easy to understand by most people. By the use of scientific tools such as a compass rose, maps would improve as navigation tool. The compass rose was invented around the same time as the Polynesian explorers went on their Voyages. But made it appearances not earlier that the 11th century on maps and charts for a sense of orientation and direction.

The knowledge of aiming

The Babylonian Map shows a clear image of where destinations are located. Although the reading of the tablet is illegible, we can clearly make out the direction of destinations. If you would follow the euphrates towards the mountains other destinations will become able to locate. Similar to the Pythagorean Theorem, if you know two elements you can hypotenuse the third element. In this case identifying two locations makes the observer able to set a path to the desired location.

Landmark wayfinding

The usage of landmarks to navigate originates from the tablet and is still used today for orientation and navigational purposes. As we browse through history landmark maps are commonly used to indicate destinations and have a reference of landmark buildings.

Example of the Roman Empire a landmark map, an abstract map of Europe showing cities, Middle Sea, Middle East and parts of Middle Europe. The landmarks are placed on top of the map as a 3D landmark. This map dates from the high days of the Roman Empire. Image taken from Erroma.

The Image of the City (Kevin A. Lynch)

Kevin Lynch published the book The Image of the City (1960) and described a way for people to mentally map and understand their environments in a logical and predictable way. In his book he describes a the concept of mental maps, a sketch map by a average person about an environment from memory. Within the mental maps he discovered five common elements to indicate whereabouts, destinations and paths. Similar to the early maps.

  • Pathways, streets, sidewalks, trails, and other channels in which people travel;
  • Edges, perceived boundaries such as walls, buildings, and shorelines;
  • Districts, which represent relatively large sections of the city distinguished by some identity or character;
  • Nodes, focal points, intersections, decision points or gateways
  • Landmarks, memorable/identifiable objects or places which serve as external reference points.

People who move through the city engage in way-finding. They need to be able to recognize and organize urban elements into a coherent pattern. ~Kevin Lynch

Main takeaways

A mental map is one of the most important human elements to 'read' an (un)familiar environments. In order to orientate and navigate we tend to use references from our surroundings and interpret elements to choose the desired path.

A mental map is the human imagination of reality, a map that is different for everyone. According to the mental map we can estimate where other places are places and how we can go. This is our association with the environment, perception and appreciation of this environment.




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What is a Wayfinding Strategy?

Wayfinding strategy approach

The basic principle of a wayfinding strategy is to create a legible environment, to find destinations and to exclude random seeking. A wayfinding strategy helps to create areas, environments, buildings to be easy to navigate places for people and to have a seamless journey experience.

Within the wayfinding strategy there are three (3) main wayfinding tasks defined;

  1. Naive Search
    Where the user has no exact knowledge of the whereabouts of the destination’s location.
  2. Primed Search
    Where the user knows the destination’s location.
  3. Exploration
    Any wayfinding task in which there is no set destination.

Wayfinding tasks

Each area, environment requires different approach to wayfinding. Depending on the required wayfinding a task a strategy can be chosen for people to understand their surroundings. For instance in Airports the tasks can be different than wondering in the park. Below you will find examples of wayfinding tasks that can be applied in a wayfinding strategy.

  • Route following
  • Inference
  • Aiming
  • Map reading
  • Technology

Discover each of these strategies to create legible environments and focus on delivering end-user information.

Route following

Route Following is a strategy to describe a way in which the observer is using signs with arrows to go from one place to another. The target of location is known, but a direct path towards it is unknown. Along the route, information is displayed to inform the observer towards the target. The signs are working together to create a network of connections between locations. The consistency in terminology- and hierarchy of information as well as marking decision points is important for Route Following to be an effective way of directing people from one place to another.

Route following can be applied for instance in areas to point towards an entrance, exit. A situation where a directive wayfinding task is required to guide towards a destination.

Inference

Inference is a wayfinding strategy that involves systematic searching, the understanding of a direction by reading numerical and alphabetical information in sequences. This methodology is based on creating an environment in a logical, understandable order. Combined with conventional cultural patterns Inference is a logical approach to create a legible environment build on expectations.

Inference can be applied in areas for instance at Airports, Railway stations or Stadiums. Upfront information such as "Your flight departs from Gate H3" is required as wayfinding taks, to follow a logical approach "H1, H2, H3, etc".

Aiming

Object (aiming) wayfinding strategy is divided into two categories, direct- and indirect visual contact with the target. In a direct visual contact, the observer has a visual reference of the target and chooses the desired path towards it. In an indirect visual contact, the observer chooses to follow logical steps to find a place where visual contact can be made, then follows the desired path towards the target.

Aiming as wayfinding taks can be applied in for instance cities or wide spread areas, where you can see landmarks and make your way towards the destination.

Map reading

Map Reading is a strategy to inform the observer about their surroundings, e.g. "You are Here". Based upon the understanding of the map in relation to the environment the observer makes a choice of navigation. Map Reading is usually supported by a compass rose to have a better understanding of direction. Techniques such as; to display maps in a heads-up direction can empathize a greater understanding between the map and the environment.

Map reading as a wayfinding task can be applied in cities, for example as in the Legible London mapping system. A heads-up map shows destinations, paths, safe routes and landmarks within a certain walking distance. A quick and easy way to navigate unknown areas, locate destinations and serendipity (to explore previous unknown destinations).

Technology

Technology driven strategies are usually hand-held devices or digital kiosks where input from the observer leads to orientation and navigational information. With the use of technology, dynamic information can be displayed to the observer and could be mixed with personal preference and social learning. Meaning technology has the ability to show narrow casted information, leaving out the overflow of information for the user.

The role of technology in wayfinding is set to show tailored information to the user. The phone navigational options for wayfinding usually works best open areas such as cities to locate and path towards a destination. The usage of mobile phones in buildings seems a more difficult taks, as there are lesser options for distinctiveness and technology difficulties.

Main takeaways

A wayfinding strategy is tailored to the required tasks in an environment and focused at the user. Different areas, buildings, transportation hubs, etc required their own approach in wayfinding.

  • What is the required wayfinding task?
  • What kind of area, environment, building?

Try different approaches while developing a wayfinding strategy and user-test scenarios to create a seamless journey experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a Wayfinding Strategy?

A wayfinding strategy is a approach to the required wayfinding tasks in a area, environment or building. A set of rules to define how the information is presented to the user. Wayfinding Strategies include route following, inference aiming, map reading. The required task determines the wayfinding strategy.




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Book Review: Airport Wayfinding

Over the years airports have been increasingly becoming larger spaces. Often also integrated with rail, metro and other means of transportation. In general(before COVID) people tend to take flights as a fast means on transportation from place to place.

The layout and structure of airports are different from city to city, therefore wayfinding is needed to navigate quickly and safely. Although wayfinding should be clear in airport, often the navigational information has interference with increasingly more advertising.

Airports have become multi-functional environments processes are internationally standardized and maximally efficient, with a strong emphasis on entertainment and consumption.

The book “Aiport Wayfinding” by Heike Nehl and Sibylle Schlaich is a complete overview what it takes to develop a wayfinding scheme for airports.

In some cases the wayfinding becomes part of the identity of an airport. Good example cases is for instance at Schiphol. The yellow signs stand out in the environment making it easy to navigate around. In the case of Schiphol, yellow has become the identity driver, recognizable and to stand out of advertising.

The book in a extensive overview on airport wayfinding, and explores the following;

  • Evolving, a constant state of evolution
  • Identity, architecture, flow and integrated design
  • Design, color, typography and pictograms
  • Digital, pre-journey experience, at the airport and onward travel
  • Beyond, how airports connect, mobility and the city

Airport wayfinding

As there a many ‘standards’ in wayfinding, airport wayfinding tends to differ and creating a unique identity to the airport. Usually the background color of the signs are part of the identity. For example; Schiphol Yellow, Frankfurt Blue, Switserland Black, Heathtrow yellow, Berlin Red/Brown, etc.

Airport Wayfinding Strategy

Apart from color, typography and pictograms the wayfinding systems are also vary from letters to numbers.

The book explains the passengers flow land side and air side. A complete overview of the customer journey throughout an airport. Included examples for spatial layout and visions on how to improve passengers flow in airports.

From interviews, explanations and examples, the book analyzes wayfinding systems of approximately 70 airports by aligning their identities and functions.

Conclusion

The book “Airport Wayfinding” is a must read for urban planners, wayfinding information designers and working in the field of (air) transportation and mobility.

The countless examples, comparisons, standards and interviews makes this book on of our favorites in airport wayfinding.

If you want to learn about the authors, visit their website Moniteurs.

Information

  • Publisher: Niggli Verlag
  • Language: English
  • ISBN: 978-3721210149
  • Hardcover, 240 pages

Airport Wayfinding

Get knowledge on Airport Wayfinding and buy the book at Amazon.

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Essential Design Principles for Hospital Wayfinding [2023]

Wayfinding

Finding your way in a hospital setting can be tricky. The stress of finding a department or destination in a (unfamiliar) building can a challenging experience.

What is there was a way to make finding your way in a hospital easier? This is where design discipline wayfinding comes into play and has the potential to improve the patient experience.

Wayfinding is a multidisciplinary design field that combines principles of cognitive psychology and human behavior for a better understanding of the surroundings.

For hospitals, wayfinding aims to address the following critical issues:

  • How can we make it improve wayfinding for patients?
  • Which design principles can assist to enhance the visitors experience?
  • How can we create an accessible environment for all users, including people with disabilities?

In this article we will explore the importance of wayfinding principles in hospitals. The challenges we face along the way and the innovative solutions that will improve the way patients navigate healthcare settings.

By exploring the role of both traditional and digital wayfinding tools, we will highlight the potential of well-designed wayfinding to improve wayfinding in hospitals. The goal is an improved patient experience and ultimately to contribute to reduced stress when visiting a hospital.

The challenges of hospital signage

Orienting and navigating a hospital environment can be challenging for patients, visitors and even medical staff. With wayfinding research we can look through the 'eyes' of the users and understand the bottlenecks and success factors of effective wayfinding.

In this chapter we explore the main challenges of signage and take a closer look at why these problems can arise.

A. Complexity of buildings

Signage 'shows' people the way in buildings and environments. A hospital building is usually a large building with several floors, wings and departments. A hospital can have more than 100 different departments, from Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgery, Internal Medicine to Orthopedics, Radiology and Oncology. This can include many subspecialties.
A hospital usually consists of many departments and specialists, located throughout the hospital building, connected by squares and corridors.

Why can a hospital building have a complicated or confusing layout?

  • Due to expansion and renovations, buildings can be adapted over time. Expansion of wings and/or, for example, an attached building can lead to a confusing layout.
  • Due to functional requirements of departments, part of the hospital may not be accessible. As a result, to reach a certain department, you can get there via a detour.

How does (building) complexity affect patients and visitors?

  • A complicated layout brings increased stress. Can I find the department? Am I on time?
  • Difficulty finding departments. Where is department xx? How do I get to the department?

Why are hospital environments naturally stressful?

  • Due to health problems and emotional nature, a hospital can be experienced as stressful. What do I have? Can the doctor help me?
  • Due to time-bound appointments and procedures in a hospital. Am I on time? Where is...?

How does this stress affect signage?

  • Due to increased stress, people (usually) have a reduced ability to process information. Where should I look?
  • Due to an increased reliance on intuitive references. How does the signage work?

What are the unique signage challenges that different users face?

  • Patients, visitors are not familiar with the layout of the building. Where's what?
  • Patients, visitors have cognitive or physical limitations. May have difficulty processing the information.
  • Non-native speakers and/or have difficulty reading the signage.

Why is it important to consider user needs when designing signage?

  • Ensuring accessibility and inclusiveness principles, design-for-all concept.
  • Reduce the risk of disorientation
  • On time for an appointment
  • Consistent information provision towards a patient and visitor gives peace of mind in orienting and navigating in an (unfamiliar) environment.

Why can it be difficult to maintain consistency in hospital signage systems?

  • Due to the variety of systems and information provision around patient information.
  • Information such as on the website, call letter, reception desk, ticket, referral letter and signage must be consistent for a clear picture towards the patient, visitor.

By examining these challenges in wayfinding research, we understand the user and thereby identify bottlenecks and success factors.

Wayfinding strategy for hospitals

In this chapter we discuss different ways of referring that can help improve orientation and navigation in the hospital. By implementing these strategies, hospitals become more user-friendly and accessible, reducing the stress associated with navigating healthcare facilities.

  1. Well-thought-out signage
    This includes clear, concise, and easy-to-understand signage at key decision points, such as at entrances, hallways, elevators, stairways, and wards. Ensure consistency in design, colors and typography for clear communication.

Example: A hospital can create a wing layout for different departments such as A, B, C, D, etc. making it easier for users to track their destination.

  1. Landmarks and Visual Recognition Points:
    Including landmarks and visual identifiers in the hospital environment can aid orientation and make it easier for users to remember the route.

Example: Placing distinctive artwork, architectural features or color schemes as landmarks in the hospital.

  1. Digital Wayfinding:
    Digital wayfinding, such as interactive kiosks, mobile apps and touchscreens, can provide real-time information and personalized directions to help users navigate the hospital more easily.

Example: Digital screens in the hospital for displaying relevant information for users. Where am I? Where can I find department xx? And how do I get there?

  1. Staff training and support:
    Ensuring that medical staff and employees are well aware of the signage system and tone-of-voice towards patients and visitors.

Example: A hospital could offer training sessions to employees to familiarize them with the signage and teach them how to effectively help visitors navigate the hospital.

  1. Inclusive Design and Accessibility:
    Hospitals should be accessible to everyone, including people with reduced mobility, the visually impaired or the hearing impaired.

Ensure that (digital) signage takes these groups into account by using clear, high-contrast fonts, tactile elements, Braille and audio signals where appropriate.

Example: Tactile markings on the floor or braille signs assist to the help the visually impaired to navigate the building and find the right department.

By implementing these signage strategies and addressing bottlenecks and success factors, healthcare facilities can significantly improve the user experience of patients, visitors and staff. This leads to less stress, increased satisfaction and ultimately better healthcare outcomes.

Digital wayfinding in hospitals

Digitization in signage is important for improving the overall user experience in a hospital. Digital tools provide real-time information, personalized routes and additional resources to assist patients and visitors in navigating complex hospital environments.

In this chapter we discuss examples and use cases for digital wayfinding.

  1. Real Time Information:
    Digital signage can provide real-time information and updates about, for example, waiting times, routes and where you are in a hospital.

Example: Digital information signs can display the current waiting times for departments and/or other hospital services.

  1. Integration with Social Media and Online Communication:
    A social media integration platform to assist patients and visitors plan their visit, receive (route) information and share feedback.

Example: A hospital can implement a (AI) chatbot to assist users for navigating questions, ask for directions, and for instance scheduling appointments.

  1. Digital Screens:
    Interactive screens can provide patients with real-time information about their destination, directions and additional services such as finding a nearby restroom or coffee corner.

Example: A hospital can place interactive screens or a kiosk at the entrance and install it on every floor, where visitors can receive personalized route information.

  1. Mobile Information :
    Show relevant information on digitale signage screens, such as routes and destinations in the hospital. Think about including a "you are here" on a map and/or use directory signs for an overview of departments.

Example: A hospital can display the information in a mobile environment, which is linked to the hospital's website.

  1. Augmented Reality (AR) Signage:
    AR technology could overlay digital information in the real environment, such as arrows and text, using a smartphone's camera.

Example: An overlay that guides users using digital cues that overlap with the real environment.

The implementation of digital signage in hospitals creates an integrated patient experience and approach. The starting point is to use technology for a more personalized route and real-time updates, resulting in an improved user experience.

Wayfinding scenarios

In this chapter we discuss different scenarios for referring users in a hospital building. A new or existing hospital building usually has an entrance, exit, atrium, floors, corridors and wards. Destinations in a hospital can be 'coded' by using a wayfinding strategy. By means of a reference key it is possible to easily reach destinations. Below are a few examples:

  1. Route numbers
    Organizing the hospital with route numbers. This means that each destination gets a route number. Patients, visitors use the route number to reach a destination. Route numbers can be ascending or linked to, for example, a floor.

Example: Route 142, where 1 stands for floor 1 and 42 is the sequential number. This way you can always find where you are in a hospital.

  1. Wing layout
    With wing layouts, lift points such as elevators or stairs are classified with a name or letters. For example A, B, C, D, etc. With wing layouts, the letters are usually followed by a number, which stands for the floor.

Example: C2, where C stands for the wing and 3 for the floor. An addition of a number can indicate even further specifications, such as C2-12. Where, for example, 12 is the waiting area on wing C floor 2.

  1. User-friendly (digital) additions
    This scenario adds tactile and auditory information to wayfinding scenarios for reaching foreign speaking people or for people who have difficulty walking or have reduced vision capacity.

Testing the wayfinding scenarios is important to gain feedback from users. A scenario is building, process and user-related. Implementing a clear and concise wayfinding scenario improves an intuitive way finding destinations in a hospital.

Main Takeaway Explanation
Importance of wayfinding principles An integrated approach in wayfinding contributes to the improvement of routing and hospital experience.
Challenges in hospital signage Hospitals face challenges due to the (complex) layout, time-sensitive and emotional nature of visits, and various user needs.
Wayfinding strategy An effective wayfinding strategy includes clear signage, landmarks, digital tools, and staff training focused on the (end) user.
Digital wayfinding solutions Digital wayfinding solutions, such as real-time information, integration with social media, digital screens, mobile apps, and AR, can enhance the overall user experience.
Wayfinding scenarios Different wayfinding scenarios, such as route numbers, wing layouts, and user-friendly digital additions, can be deployed to improve the patient journey in hospitals.

Conclusion

A wayfinding design strategy plays an important role in improving the user experience in a hospital.

Implementing a well-thought-out wayfinding strategy and scenarios, users can orientate and navigate more easily. The starting point is to improve the user experience, which contributes to a positive image of the hospital.

The roll-out of both fixed and digital wayfinding tools, such as signage and digital displays, can help provide an integrated approach and experience tailored to users' requirements and needs.

In conclusion, a wayfinding design and strategy are indispensable for creating an accessible, safe and user-friendly environment in hospitals. It is vital that hospitals and wayfinding design studios work together to implement effective solutions that help patients, visitors and staff navigate and feel comfortable in these complex environments.



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FAQ


Why is wayfinding important in hospitals?

Wayfinding is an integrated approach for orienting and navigating in buildings, aimed at the (end) user. It provides an easy way to navigate, reduces stress and saves time.

What is a wayfinding design?

Signage is a physical or digital element which shows wayfinding information or a map. Multiple signs creates an information network for people to understand and navigate places, building or area.

What is a wayfinding strategy?

A wayfinding strategy involves creating an effective and user-friendly wayfinding system to help people navigate and orient themselves in complex environments such as hospitals.

How does wayfinding work in hospitals?

Hospital wayfinding uses both fixed and digital signage to provide an integrated experience tailored to users' needs and desires.

What are some challenges in implementing wayfinding in hospitals?

Some challenges in implementing wayfinding in hospitals include dealing with complex and changing building structures, ensuring accessibility for all users, and ensuring consistency and accuracy in the information provided.

Who is wayfinding for?

Wayfinding design is intended for everyone entering a hospital, including patients, visitors and staff. It helps them navigate the hospital more easily and improves their overall experience.




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Understanding the Product: The First Step in Effective Design

Creating effective designs for tech-savvy audiences, such as data scientists and software engineers, requires a careful balance between visual clarity, functionality, and creativity. While the complexity of the product must be communicated clearly, the interface also needs to feel intuitive and engaging. Success in such projects doesn’t just come from creativity; it’s rooted in strategic collaboration.




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Grinding

When I first decided to get an espresso machine, I went for a top of the line machine. I wanted something that would last a lifetime. The same applied to the grinder. I bought an ECM V-Titan 64, with titanium-coated flat burrs that are quoted to last at least 50 years before needing to be replaced.

Here I am, 8 years later, and finding myself somewhat frustrated with my grinder.

I make one or two espresso-based drinks a day. As such, it’ll take me a couple weeks, at least, to get through a small bag of beans. If I’m travelling, it could be upwards of a month. If I’m not in the mood for coffee, even longer. Over that time, the beans continue to degass, requiring small adjustments to the grinder each day. That, in itself, isn’t a problem and the grinder does a fantastic job of enabling these minor adjustments. The problem is in the chute design. There is 3 to 4 grams of grind retained in the chute. Not a big deal if I’m doing a number of espressos in a day but trying to dial in necessary adjustments means grinding out a bunch to clear the old stuff before proceeding to grind out what I need. If a bean gets stuck in the grinder (which happens more frequently than I’d like) then I go through an awkward process of cleaning out the grinder, creating more waste.

The workflow was becoming frustrating enough that I decided I needed to switch to a grinder that was optimized for a single dose workflow.

I had been eyeing the Weber EG-1 but, as you can imagine, that price tag is eye watering. Which, looking at the price of the V-Titan these days, is also getting quite pricey. I’m pretty sure I only spent around a thousand dollars on mine.

The espresso subreddit has highly recommended the DF64, which is more reasonable, price-wise, and has plenty of favourable reviews. The DF64 is what I ultimately settled on.

I’ve only had the DF64 for a day, so I’m not at a point where I can enthusiastically endorse it but I am already enjoying it. It takes maybe a couple extra seconds to grind but it isn’t any noisier than the old grinder and I’m getting much less retention—less than half a gram—which is a big part of what I wanted.

Considering the espresso scene these days, it’s easy to fall into an involved process with paper filters and metal screens and OCD tools and WDT tools. While I’ve tried pretty much all of these, I’m finding myself sliding back into a more simplified workflow and the grinder is part of this. My goal is to have a high quality espresso drink within 60 seconds and a reliable workflow makes a huge difference in achieving that.

Tangentially, I’ve been considering getting into pourovers and it’ll be interesting to see how reliably I can change grinder settings and still get consistent results. The Weber definitely sells itself on the flexibility of being able to handle this scenario so if the DF64 doesn’t live up to expectations, the EG-1 might very well be considered.

Anyway, time to get back to the grind…


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Recognizing traumatic brain injury as a chronic condition fosters better care over the survivor's lifetime

A commentary, published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, calls for traumatic brain injury to be recognized as a chronic condition as are diabetes, asthma, depression and heart failure. To provide comprehensive care for traumatic brain injury throughout individuals' lifespans, the authors propose that coordinated care models they and others have developed, tested and applied to various populations—including older adults, individuals living with depression and post-intensive care unit survivors—be adapted to improve communication and integration between brain injury specialists—including physical medicine and rehabilitation clinicians—and primary care physicians, fostering better long-term patient care for traumatic brain injury survivors and more support for both patients and their families.




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Susan Meiselas awarded Sony World Photography Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2025

In a significant recognition of her pioneering role in documentary photography, Susan Meiselas has been awarded the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Photography by the Sony...

The post Susan Meiselas awarded Sony World Photography Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2025 appeared first on DIY Photography.



  • news
  • Sony World Photography Awards

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Understanding Bokeh in Photography: A Complete Guide

Bokeh. Have you heard this term used in conversations while looking at a photo, listened while someone proclaimed that the bokeh in a photo was good or bad, but you’ve been too embarrassed to ask just what it is? Its something every photographer should understand because it affects your image. And whether you know it or not, you’ve probably evaluated the bokeh in your own photos.

Well hide your shame no longer. After reading this article, you will be able to hold your head high and raise your nose as you talk about the bokeh in your next photo.

Table Of Contents:

Continue reading Understanding Bokeh in Photography: A Complete Guide



  • Photography Tips & Tricks
  • bokeh
  • depth of field

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Finding Meaningful Work is Harder Than You Think

Finding meaningful work is a complex journey that requires self-reflection, authentic connections, and emotional resilience. Dr. Tessa West provides valuable insights and practical steps to help you navigate this challenging path and achieve long-term career fulfillment.

The post Finding Meaningful Work is Harder Than You Think first appeared on Chase Jarvis.

The post Finding Meaningful Work is Harder Than You Think appeared first on Chase Jarvis.




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Why You’re Not Finding Your Purpose

In this episode, Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, authors of books on Ikigai and Purushartha, talk about finding purpose and living meaningfully. They share how these ancient philosophies intersect and offer real ways to connect your passions, talents, and the needs of the world around you. From flow states and personal discovery to insights on genuine friendships and self-reflection, Héctor and Francesc explain how purpose is something built through experience, not stumbled upon. Some highlights we cover: The Four Circles of Ikigai for aligning love, skills, profession, and impact How flow states and personal experiences guide you to what matters Reflective practices like journaling and connecting with friends as tools for self-discovery Enjoy! FOLLOW HÉCTOR GARCÍA: twitter | instagram | linkedin | website FOLLOW FRANCESC MIRALLES: twitter | instagram | facebook | website Listen to the Podcast Subscribe

The post Why You’re Not Finding Your Purpose first appeared on Chase Jarvis.

The post Why You’re Not Finding Your Purpose appeared first on Chase Jarvis.






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3 Branding Tips for Web Design Firms

In a sea of web design companies, standing out is both an art and a strategy. After all, if a web design firm can’t effectively brand itself, how will potential clients trust it to brand them? If you’re looking for helpful tips on how to improve your firm’s brand identity, this article has everything you […]




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Branding and Packaging Design for Di Ligúria: Italian Roots with Brazilian Flair

Branding and Packaging Design for Di Ligúria: Italian Roots with Brazilian Flair

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Discover the branding and packaging design of Di Ligúria, a Brazilian pizzeria, blending Italian heritage with Brazilian charm.

When two Brazilian entrepreneurs with Italian heritage set out to create Di Ligúria, a pizzeria in Belo Horizonte, they wanted more than just a menu of pizzas. They sought a brand that paid homage to the flavors, traditions, and warmth of Italian culture while embodying the lively spirit of Brazilian dining. Designer Danilo Akan took on this challenge, developing a branding and packaging design that bridges these cultural elements seamlessly.

Di Ligúria’s brand identity is grounded in a love for Italian cuisine, inspired by the founders’ Genoese roots and the culinary culture of the Liguria region. Akan crafted a visual concept that honors this Italian foundation while infusing a relaxed Brazilian vibe. The name “Di Ligúria” itself is a tribute to Italy’s Liguria region, signaling an immediate connection to Italian authenticity.

Akan’s design approach captures this dual identity, focusing on simplicity, elegance, and a playful touch. Using negative space and bold typographic elements, Akan brings the essence of Italian tradition forward, yet retains a fresh, contemporary look that appeals to a wide audience. His design balances modern aesthetics with nostalgic elements of Italian dining, creating a memorable brand that invites customers to savor the Italian experience.

The most striking element of Di Ligúria’s brand identity is its innovative typography. Akan developed a typographic style that incorporates subtle nods to pizza and pasta, the core offerings of Di Ligúria. By using negative space within the letterforms, particularly in the letter “G,” Akan brings visual references to pizza slices and pasta strands. This clever use of negative space allows the brand to visually communicate its primary products in an understated yet effective way.

The logo’s typeface is both modern and classic, giving a nod to Italian design’s timeless elegance. This typographic style doesn’t just serve as a brand marker but becomes an integral part of the visual experience, subtly reinforcing the restaurant’s Italian roots while remaining approachable.

Packaging that Enhances the Experience

In addition to branding, the packaging design plays a significant role in delivering Di Ligúria’s identity. Packaging is designed not just for functionality but as an extension of the dining experience. By integrating graphic patterns inspired by Italian motifs, Akan’s design makes every pizza box, pasta container, and salad package an experience in itself.

The patterns, echoing Italian ceramic tiles and Mediterranean styles, contribute to the visual storytelling of Di Ligúria. They evoke the charm of Italy and the idea of gathering around a table with family and friends. With packaging that feels thoughtful and distinctive, customers are reminded of the quality and heritage behind each meal.

From the moment a customer sees the logo to when they unbox a fresh pizza, Di Ligúria’s branding and packaging tell a story. Each design choice reflects the founders’ desire to create a brand that goes beyond fast food and into a cultural experience, filled with Italian warmth and Brazilian vitality. Akan’s thoughtful use of typography, graphic patterns, and packaging demonstrates how design can capture a brand’s essence and elevate the customer’s experience.

For anyone looking to explore Akan’s creative process and Di Ligúria’s full brand story, more details are available on his website.

Di Ligúria’s branding and packaging design provide an excellent example of how design can connect cultural roots with a fresh perspective. Akan’s work successfully weaves Italian traditions into a Brazilian setting, delivering a design that’s as inviting as the food it represents.

Branding and visual identity artifacts




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Innovative Branding and Visual identity using Google Slides assets

Innovative Branding and Visual identity using Google Slides assets

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Montag School’s branding fuses corporate trust with creative appeal, using Google Slides assets to reach diverse audiences.

Creating a brand identity for an educational institution like Montag School requires balancing the rigorous standards of corporate audiences with the appeal needed to engage a younger, learning-focused crowd. In this project by Monga Design, Montag School’s visual branding comes to life with a thoughtful, dual-purpose approach that reaches across the boundaries of institutional professionalism and educational creativity.

Montag School’s goal was to represent itself as a trustworthy, contemporary leader in personalized education. This meant moving away from conventional, corporate-heavy design toward a more flexible and approachable brand image. The resulting visual identity integrates both institutional authority and a fresh, dynamic appeal, capturing the trustworthiness expected in corporate circles while aligning with the openness and innovation desired in education.

One of the project’s standout qualities is its focus on balance. By addressing both institutional credibility and the youthful appeal needed for online and in-person classes, the branding reinforces Montag’s positioning as a leader in educational innovation. The design combines strong visual cues—such as clean lines and modern typography—with a vibrant color palette, adding depth to both the brand’s academic and professional facets.

Leveraging Google Slides for Visual Consistency

An innovative aspect of this project is the use of Google Slides as a foundational tool for asset creation. This choice reflects an understanding of Montag’s operational needs and the educational landscape’s demands for accessibility and efficiency. By designing custom graphics within Google Slides, Monga Design created a versatile, cost-effective solution for maintaining consistent visuals across various educational materials. Google Slides not only provides easy customization but also aligns with the widespread use of this tool in both corporate and learning environments, allowing Montag to produce branded materials in-house without requiring extensive software training.

Montag School’s branding thoughtfully considers its diverse target audiences. For in-company courses and corporate conventions, the brand maintains a polished, professional tone, ensuring credibility and trust in a business context. Simultaneously, for students attending online and in-person classes, the brand incorporates a more engaging, youthful look. The graphics, colors, and animations appeal to students by creating an approachable and modern learning environment.

Monga Design introduced animations for key assets to add a layer of interactivity to Montag’s branding. These animations, crafted by Clint Studio, enhance the brand’s visual appeal while ensuring they resonate with both young learners and seasoned professionals. This visual dynamism strengthens the brand’s reach by making it adaptable to the changing demands of the educational landscape.

The design team approached this branding project with a detailed, collaborative process. Their “Visual Thermometer” meeting—a strategy to explore visual possibilities rather than set rigid creative guidelines—proved essential for crafting a design that was both client-centered and creative. By aligning client preferences with design expertise, they established a visual identity that resonates on multiple levels, providing a cohesive experience for all audiences.

Montag School’s branding successfully bridges the gap between education and business, providing a clear, attractive, and credible visual identity that aligns with the brand’s values. By balancing a contemporary, accessible aesthetic with the professionalism expected in corporate circles, Montag School positions itself as a modern leader in education, with a visual identity that can grow with its expanding audience.

For more on this project, you can view the video case here.

Branding and visual identity artifacts

Credits

  • Visual identity: Monga Design → Mateus Yuzo and Michel Refatti
  • Motion: Clint Studio → Gustavo Brazzalle, Lucas José Galego e Luciano Burger




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Chooch’s Branding Embraces Authenticity Through Playful Imperfection

Chooch’s Branding Embraces Authenticity Through Playful Imperfection

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Discover how amStudio’s branding and visual identity of Chooch captures authentic, handmade aesthetics for fashion accessories.

Chooch, formerly known as Flat Fifteen, has redefined its brand to better reflect its founder Francesca Kappo’s evolving vision. With the guidance of amStudio, this rebrand has transformed the brand’s identity from a broad handmade focus to one that is solely centered around fashion accessories. Chooch stands out with its playful name, unique backstory, and brand elements that weave together storytelling, imperfection, and tactile aesthetics.

The Meaning Behind “Chooch”

The rebranding from Flat Fifteen to Chooch came as Francesca Kappo shifted her focus. The name “Chooch” is personal, rooted in a nickname given to Francesca by her uncle. He also played a foundational role in the brand’s beginnings, supplying her first batch of deadstock fabrics from his 1990s fashion label. These fabrics continue to be a vital part of Chooch’s accessory designs today, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to sustainability and storytelling.

The name itself is more than just a rebranding—it’s a celebration of heritage and identity. Short, memorable, and fun to say, “Chooch” captures the playful spirit of the brand. As Alam Mohammed, founder of amStudio, notes, the name’s flexibility in pronunciation makes it a warm, approachable identity that consumers can connect with personally. This idea carried over to the logo design, where the doubled O’s have a playful, imperfect alignment, mirroring the brand’s handmade ethos.

Playful Imperfection: The Brand Identity

Alam Mohammed and his team at amStudio developed a brand identity for Chooch that prioritizes authenticity. Hand-painted illustrations are central to this, appearing across the brand’s packaging, website, and social media. This choice keeps the look grounded, tactile, and relatable, evoking the feel of handmade fashion. By maintaining this aesthetic, the brand sets itself apart in a market often dominated by hyper-polished digital imagery.

The branding extends beyond static visuals. Chooch’s social media and marketing leverage stop-motion animations, adding a dynamic yet still homemade feel. This use of motion emphasizes the brand’s accessible nature, where every element ties back to the concept of imperfection being perfectly beautiful. The stop-motion clips give life to the fashion accessories, highlighting the fun and creativity behind each product.

Chooch’s narrative goes deeper than playful design. By continuing to use deadstock fabrics, Francesca Kappo honors her roots and commits to a more sustainable future. The tactile branding elements mirror this philosophy, creating a seamless experience from the physical product to the digital space. The history of the materials and the personal touch behind the brand make each accessory more than just a fashion statement—they become a story in themselves.

The rebranding also came with strategic moves to elevate Chooch’s market presence. The bags are now featured at the Victoria and Albert Museum’s shop as part of the first-ever Naomi Campbell exhibition. This collaboration has not only introduced the brand to a wider audience but also solidified its standing as a contemporary, fashion-forward label. The exhibition has boosted Chooch’s brand awareness and increased its social media following, translating to more sales and a growing fan base.

The Chooch rebrand exemplifies a growing trend: the embrace of imperfection in design. By favoring hand-drawn illustrations, irregular alignments, and a conversational tone, amStudio has given the brand an inviting, human feel. This approach rejects the overly polished and instead celebrates the beauty of the handmade. It’s a move that resonates well in today’s world, where consumers value authenticity and transparency.

Chooch’s rebranding is a masterclass in how thoughtful design can reflect a brand’s core values. From its name rooted in personal history to its playful logo and tactile illustrations, Chooch stays true to its story. Alam Mohammed and the amStudio team have created a brand identity that isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling real, celebrating imperfections, and staying connected to tradition. As Chooch grows, its story continues to inspire, reminding us that the imperfect is often the most perfect of all.

Branding and visual identity artifacts




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FLIPPO Pet Food: A Fresh Take on Branding and Packaging Design

FLIPPO Pet Food: A Fresh Take on Branding and Packaging Design

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Discover FLIPPO Pet Food’s playful branding and clean packaging design, making waves in the pet food industry.

FLIPPO Pet Food is more than just a brand; it’s a lively celebration of real, natural nutrition for pets. Developed in Spain, FLIPPO takes a bold stand against traditional pet kibble, ushering in a wave of wholesome, fresh ingredients for our loyal companions. This design-centric approach comes to life through FLIPPO’s unique branding and eye-catching packaging, crafted by the talented team at invade design, Colombia.

A Visual Feast for Pet Lovers

FLIPPO’s brand identity is anything but conventional. It combines playful illustrations, vibrant colors, and friendly typography to create an experience that instantly captures attention. The visual storytelling here is intentional, aimed at communicating the brand’s commitment to quality and its promise of real food for pets. The design invites pet owners to rethink what they feed their furry friends, making every interaction with the packaging memorable.

One of the standout features of FLIPPO’s design is its use of clean lines and engaging illustrations. Each packaging element feels like an invitation to a healthier, happier lifestyle for pets. The color palette bursts with energy, reflecting the brand’s fun and light-hearted personality while reinforcing its serious commitment to pet health.

Thoughtful Typography and Brand Messaging

Typography in FLIPPO’s design strikes a fine balance between playful and practical. The brand uses bold, easy-to-read fonts that ensure key messages are clear, whether they’re displayed in store aisles or in a social media feed. This typographic choice complements the visuals, making the overall design both appealing and accessible.

Brand messaging leans into humor and relatability. FLIPPO’s playful copy engages pet owners with a tone that’s both fun and genuine. It’s a reminder that feeding our pets shouldn’t be a chore but a joyful experience, one that prioritizes their well-being.

From Concept to Reality: Behind the Scenes

The team at invade design worked meticulously to craft an identity that stands out in the competitive pet food market. Photography by Serena.Studio captures the freshness and quality of the ingredients, enhancing the appeal of the design. Together, these elements create a brand ecosystem that feels cohesive and authentic.

For those interested in design inspiration, FLIPPO offers a masterclass in branding and packaging that balances fun with function. Check out the full project and more by invade design on Behance at https://www.behance.net/madebyinvade.

Branding and packaging design artifacts

Credits

  • Identidad de Marca:
  • invade, Colombia
  • Team:
  • María Vélez
  • Agustin Hoyos
  • Mariana Castrillón
  • Tania Flórez
  • Tomás Saldarriaga
  • Mateo Ríos
  • ​​​​​​​Fotografía:
  • Serena.Studio




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Event Contact EmailCarie.Cardamone@tufts.edu
Event Contact Phone: 6176270562
RSVP Informationforms.gle…
More infoforms.gle…



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Open to Public: Yes
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Event Contact Phone: 6176270562
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