taskTWO: wayfinding

For the second task, I chose my favorite place in London - Victoria & Albert Museum to discuss a contemporary wayfinding system.

Designed by Holmes Wood, a UK based identity and communication design firm, they have managed to create a unique graphic language in the V&A navigation system.

Outside the museum they have glass components which are changeable and inside is a simply done color and symbol co-ordinated navigation system. The exhibition rooms and other areas of the museum are color coded using orange, pink, blue, purple and green. There is of course the usual grey, black and white as well, used only when necessary. The huge space the museum occupies demands a comprehensive and user-friendly sign system which Holmes Wood has successfully managed to do.

The bright colors add a lot of life to the high ceilings, cream-colored sober interiors of the iconic structure. They make the place look very modern and friendly as well. The several entrances of the museum have huge maps on the wall, as well as small booklets which one can carry around when exploring the space.

In these maps the rooms are color coded, which is also carried onto the banners in the rooms itself. There is a key to the map which further describes what exhibit is on display along with a symbol key as well. The walls of some rooms are color coded too.

Throughout the Museum, there are symbols describing the facilities present in the space and the usual arrows pointing the direction. The typeface is simple and clean and one which has high legibility even from a distance.

Although the system is very comprehensive, owing to the size of the space, one does tend to get lost despite the map as there are too many nooks and corners which are all not possible to identify on a map. This cannot wholly be blamed on the designer. Nevertheless, the staff is VERY friendly and helpful, and getting lost isn't a luxury there! Moreover, after a few visits you can navigate yourself around without the map.

Overall the wayfinding system has its own graphical flow combining symbols, type and color and has a very classy appeal, just like the museum. Uncluttered and sophisticated, the design is in sync with the image of the V&A - contemporary yet retaining a traditional feel.