TAYLOR PEETInformation Graphics Wayfinding Interim

*Images are my own, taken at Mt Roberts

Location: MTB Single Trail at Mt Roberts, CoomaProblem: No signage at all. The only sign of where to go is the inbuilt track where you can see where everyone has been riding. This track is on my farm and we get numerous people out for the day riding, but they are only able to ride with someone who knows their way around. It would be fantastic to produce a wayfinding signage system for our 20km track. Signage would be appropriate from where to park cars, to where the entrance of the track is and continue all the way up the mountain.

• Phone Reception Points• KM’s to the top• Steepness• Average time to the top• KM’s to next checkpoint• Information if the rider hurts themselves, for safety• KM’s away from homebase• Locate main fire trails when close by• Shared MTB & Walking track• Expert, or Beginner level sections• Slippery Warnings for rock garden sections• Two way traffic warning• Obstacle dangers – wooden planks, etc• A & B lines – options information• Dogs allowed• Intersection/crossing ahead caution• Strava segment details (beginning/endings of segments)

DESIGN PROBLEM:

CONSIDERATIONS:

Being a mountain bike rider myself, this signage system in particular stood out for numerous reasons. The design features in which were taken into account whilst the designer approached the creation are as follows. These would be ideal for the Mt Roberts MTB system.

• The use of icons and symbols - (arrows to assist direction, bike riders and bush walkers, two way traffic)

• Clear and legible text as the rider is on the move and sometimes travelling at a high speed – it needs to be identifiable whilst on the go

• Relevant information

• A colour coding system has been used, to identify “easy”, “intermediate”, “expert”, and “4wd track”, as well as danger warnings.

• Reflective text for night time experience

• An app has been developed to be in sync with the system and acts as a secondary wayfinding system.

EXISTING

WAYFINDING

EXAMPLE 1

Makara Peak MTB Trails

DESIGN FEATURES:

*Images from https://www.behance.net/gallery/Makara-Peak-Wayfinding/9672509

The Utah Olympic Park signage system is a great inspiration for my final signage system. The main features in which are relevant are as follows:

• Consistency within the signage of the brand. The colours used ensure that the audience can easily follow the signs without feeling lost

• Typography – legible, large, and easy to read colours

• White background, ensuring the text stands out

• Large landmarks, to allow the audience to remember particular locations in which they travelled – this assistance allows the audience to feel confident in their orientation

• Symbols and icons, (including arrows, parking symbols, and the logo symbol to ensure that they recognise they are following the right signs)

EXISTING

WAYFINDING

EXAMPLE 2

Utah Olympic Park

DESIGN FEATURES:

*Images from https://www.behance.net/gallery/9391645/Utah-Olympic-Park-Signage

My final example is to assist my desire to create an interactive solution, when the rider has lost the signage, (it can happen). Even if it does not happen, my idea is to include a clue on the physical signs to ensure that the rider feels safe, as there is always a risk of getting lost in a large bush area. This particular example includes the following design features in which would help the rider get back on track:

• Colour system, to allow each direction to be clearly identified.

• Compass style system – I am not sure if I would use this particular style in layout for the compass system, but similarities in the arrows on north, east, south and west, would be ideal for getting back on track.

• Physical signage system to match the app, as features such as the colours would be recognised and therefore searched for

• Clear and legible typography – it is similar to being on your phone and driving – but in this case riders are allowed to be on their phones. The text needs to be clear and brief, so that when they glance at it quickly it is easily understood

• A bike hub – where the rider begins and can have an overview of how the wayfinding system works, as well as how the trails work

EXISTING

WAYFINDING

EXAMPLE 3

Cycling Cities

DESIGN FEATURES:

*Images from http://www.junkwon.co.uk/Cycling-Cities

The major details in which I wish to focus on in my wayfinding system are:

• To provide consistent branding and wayfinding for recognision• The consideration of interaction – e.g. the app which includes a compass and a landmark image system• Matching signs with the app (again, consistency)• Symbol and icon system• Colour system• Legible typography• The consideration of the weather, season, and time of day – e.g. a lighting system for the night riders, as well as a system in which can melt snow off the signs in winter. Colour also can come into this, as yellow is a common colour for snow, therefore it might be appropriate to use it often• Landmark system• Bike hub to keep new riders in the loop of how the system works

SKETCHES

OF DESIGN

SOLUTION

Mt Roberts MTB Trail

DESIGN FEATURES: