What is "wayfinding"?

The act of finding one's way to a particular place; navigation. (Oxford English Dictionary)

Basic process

The basic process of wayfinding involves four stages^[1]:

1. Orientation is the attempt to determine one's location, in relation to objects that may be nearby and the desired destination.
2. Route decision is the selection of a course of direction to the destination.
3. Route monitoring is checking to make sure that the selected route is heading towards the destination.
4. Destination recognition is when the destination is recognized.

^{What is currently underway at UVA? (last update 11/14/2023)}

Capstone Project: "Accessible Navigation Mapping for UVA Engineering Buildings: Supporting People with Mobility Disabilities for Wayfinding"

GOAL: To improve the current campus’ accessibility by increasing the ease with which those with mobility disabilities navigate grounds

Presentation to the Disability Advocacy Committee 11/14/23

• ADVISORS: Rupa Valdez and Tariq Iqbal
• 4th Yr Systems Students
  • Iris Chen
  • Manasi Srigiriraju
  • Christopher Cook
  • Shiyu Liu

The University Signage and Wayfinding System Study

• Contact:
  • Helen Wilson
  • Sr. Landscape Architect
  • Office of the University Architect

1.  Lidwell, William; Holden, Kritina; Butler, Jill (2010). "Wayfinding". The Pocket Universal Principles of Design: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design. Rockport Publishers. p. 260. ISBN 9781610580656 – via Google Books.