Wayfinding in Wayfinding in HillsboroughHillsborough

What is it?What is it?

How does it work?How does it work?

Why is it important?Why is it important?

What can it look like?What can it look like?

What are we doing about What are we doing about it?it?

Wayfinding – What is it?Wayfinding – What is it?

► A system of signs and directional A system of signs and directional indicators that help people find indicators that help people find where they want to go.where they want to go.

► Wikipedia:Wikipedia:““encompasses all of the encompasses all of the

ways in which people and ways in which people and animals orient themselves in animals orient themselves in physical space and navigate physical space and navigate from place to place.”from place to place.”

““also refers to the set of also refers to the set of architectural and/or design architectural and/or design elements that aid orientation.”elements that aid orientation.”

H

Wayfinding – How does it Wayfinding – How does it work?work?

►Signage starts general and become Signage starts general and become more specific as you reach your more specific as you reach your intended location.intended location. Exit Markers - simpleExit Markers - simple Welcome Sign - decorativeWelcome Sign - decorative District Sign – establishes cueDistrict Sign – establishes cue Trailblazer - directionalTrailblazer - directional Pedestrian scale – lots of informationPedestrian scale – lots of information Parking & destination signsParking & destination signs

Wayfinding ExampleWayfinding Example

► You are on the You are on the interstate and are interstate and are ready to stop for the ready to stop for the night and need night and need lodging.lodging. Step 1 – You look for Step 1 – You look for

a blue sign a blue sign indicating lodging.indicating lodging.

Wayfinding ExampleWayfinding Example

► You are on the You are on the interstate and are interstate and are ready to stop for the ready to stop for the night and need night and need lodging.lodging. Step 1 – You look for Step 1 – You look for

a blue sign a blue sign indicating lodging.indicating lodging.

Step 2Step 2

►At the bottom of At the bottom of the ramp, you the ramp, you turn in the turn in the direction of the direction of the hotel you’ve hotel you’ve chosen and note chosen and note the travel the travel distancedistance

Step 2Step 2

►At the bottom of At the bottom of the ramp, you the ramp, you turn in the turn in the direction of the direction of the hotel you’ve hotel you’ve chosen and note chosen and note the travel the travel distancedistance

Step 3Step 3

► As you approach the hotel, you see the final As you approach the hotel, you see the final directional sign directional sign

Step 3Step 3

► As you approach the hotel, you see the final As you approach the hotel, you see the final directional sign directional sign

Wayfinding – Why is it Wayfinding – Why is it important?important?

► Why is wayfinding important to local Why is wayfinding important to local businesses?businesses? VisibilityVisibility

►Wayfinding systems help breakdown a complex environment Wayfinding systems help breakdown a complex environment into smaller pieces, by establishing district identities, so into smaller pieces, by establishing district identities, so those who are unfamilar with an area have cluesthose who are unfamilar with an area have clues

► It helps make your paid advertising more effectiveIt helps make your paid advertising more effective It shows visitors that we are “ready for them”It shows visitors that we are “ready for them”

►What’s more challenging on vacation than finding your way?What’s more challenging on vacation than finding your way?►What’s better on vacation than finding a cool event you What’s better on vacation than finding a cool event you

didn’t know was happening?didn’t know was happening? Recommended by the Jennings Study & Churton Recommended by the Jennings Study & Churton

Street PlanStreet Plan

What can it look like? - What can it look like? - RaleighRaleigh

►Downtown Downtown Builds on the City of Builds on the City of

Oaks themeOaks theme For downtown onlyFor downtown only Directs drivers and Directs drivers and

pedestrians to pedestrians to parking, government parking, government buildings, and public buildings, and public destinationsdestinations

What can it look like? - What can it look like? - OrlandoOrlando

Downtown Arts District

Public Parking

What can it look like? Across the What can it look like? Across the CountryCountry

Wayfinding – What are we Wayfinding – What are we doing? doing?

►Beginning in March, we will assemble a Beginning in March, we will assemble a task force to work with Planning Staff task force to work with Planning Staff to develop a sign planto develop a sign plan We need volunteers from the business community to serve We need volunteers from the business community to serve

on a short term planning teamon a short term planning team

►We expect about 7 meetings of the We expect about 7 meetings of the committee, roughly monthly, with committee, roughly monthly, with longer between the 6 & 7 to allow time longer between the 6 & 7 to allow time for working with a graphic designerfor working with a graphic designer

Hillsborough Plan ScheduleHillsborough Plan Schedule

► Meeting 1 – March – VisionMeeting 1 – March – Vision Review existing plans to craft a vision or purpose Review existing plans to craft a vision or purpose

for the sign plan and programfor the sign plan and program► Meeting 2 – April – Sign FunctionsMeeting 2 – April – Sign Functions

Wayfinding relies on a hierarchy of signs and Wayfinding relies on a hierarchy of signs and messages, these need to be customized for messages, these need to be customized for HillsboroughHillsborough

► Meeting 3 – May – Sign LocationsMeeting 3 – May – Sign Locations We know it’s all about locationWe know it’s all about location

► Meeting 4 – June – Design ConceptsMeeting 4 – June – Design Concepts What theme, design or logo do we want to useWhat theme, design or logo do we want to use More than one option is desirable until the plan is More than one option is desirable until the plan is

finalizedfinalized

Hillsborough Plan Schedule, Hillsborough Plan Schedule, contcont

►Meeting 5 – July – Design GuidelinesMeeting 5 – July – Design Guidelines What are the criteria for the signs in terms of What are the criteria for the signs in terms of

materials and colorsmaterials and colors At this point we can look for design professionals At this point we can look for design professionals

to polish our planto polish our plan►Meeting 6 – August – Financing & Meeting 6 – August – Financing &

Implementation PlansImplementation Plans Options to fund these signs and a schedule for Options to fund these signs and a schedule for

installationinstallation►Meeting 7 – September/October – Draft PlanMeeting 7 – September/October – Draft Plan

The Committee’s work is released to the public The Committee’s work is released to the public for formal review and acceptancefor formal review and acceptance

Interested?Interested?

►This plan is a project of the This plan is a project of the Hillsborough Tourism Board, but we Hillsborough Tourism Board, but we need community volunteers to help need community volunteers to help craft the plan.craft the plan.

► If you are interested in helping, please If you are interested in helping, please leave a business card or otherwise leave a business card or otherwise contact the Planning Department staff.contact the Planning Department staff.