Communication design: The use of visual cues in the environment to aid in wayfinding with contextual essay

Modern design theory transcends individual design disciplines and design research is increasingly interdisciplinary. This observational case study brings together information and inquiry from disciplines ranging from Graphic Design to Landscape Architecture and focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of environmental communication problems and interventions. My question, "How can changes in wayfinding behavior in relation to a campus wayfinding project describe and add to the effective use of visual cues in environmental communication design?" addresses inter-relationships between the natural environment, the built environment, and the institutions and processes that shape developed areas. The goal is to promote a deeper understanding of the ways in which the public interprets the sensory cues that occur naturally and those designed within the built environment. My case study builds upon a solid understanding of traditional design capabilities and theoretical issues to investigate the importance of visual cues in wayfinding behavior. These signals are filtered by the cultural and historical context in which they function, as well as the social and economic factors that influence contemporary society.; Design permeates everyday life, every object observed, every visual message absorbed, every sign detected is the outcome of design. Design is viewed as the most democratic of the arts because it fuses the practical need of end users with a kind of visual appeal that draws that user closer. Designers are trained to solve problems; they are capable of a variety of problem-solving activities, while most are practical some are strictly conceptual. Contemporary graphic design professionals are embracing a collaborative methodology toward communication challenges. The conventional approach attempts to define design problems narrowly. It asks questions such as: Who are the clients? What do they want? Who is the audience? How can visual elements be used to achieve the communication purposes within the time and budget allocated? My case study takes the expanded view of design that problems can rarely be solved with such a parochial focus. This approach stresses understanding the world as a set of interconnected complex interrelationships. The case study considers an expansive interdisciplinary perspective to wayfinding; each small problem is seen in the broader context. Using this holistic approach, each visual element or cue is examined for how it can improve the navigation and enjoyment of the constructed environment.; The observational case study asked, "How can changes in wayfinding behavior in relation to a campus wayfinding project describe and add to the effective use of visual cues in environmental communication design?" Subjects were two hundred students that lived in Schreiner University's Pecan Grove apartment complex. I employed covert observational research in a public space and documented behavior over four two-week periods: The first two-week period was to establish normative behavior, the second two-week period was to observe behavioral response to an affordance, the third two-week period was to observe behavior after the introduction of a visual cue, and the last two-week period was later in the year to observe the sustainability of previously observed behavioral changes. I utilized journal documentation and photography to record observations. All observations were conducted during the same timeframe and for the same duration. My observations suggest that the introduction of visual cues affects wayfinding behavior. Visual affordances and visual cues can improve the navigation and enjoyment of the constructed environment.