What is Wayfinding?

Signs are a succinct graphic representation of information. They are used as a means to an end to provide messaging to people where it might not otherwise be readily available. Wayfinding is the result of using such information to help people appropriately navigate, learn, and act while existing in a particular space. The most direct physical manifestation of wayfinding is in signs. Signs, whether they are geared towards identification, direction, or regulation, offer concise information to help people quickly learn and make decisions.

View of Forbes Avenue Corridor

Wayfinding, however, does not necessarily source its messaging primarily from signs. For instance, a church with its tall belfry, standing alone in a countryside, does not necessarily require a sign to denote its function. Furthermore with other instances, visual, tactile, and spatial information can be provided to a visitor of an interior or exterior space by many other means. Besides signs, such things as landmarks, word of mouth, and various art and technologies can be equally effective to help people learn information, navigate a space, and locate a destination. Together, these elements can help to create vibrant pedestrian-oriented spaces where visitors and residents can navigate around with ease.

Innovation Oakland uses every means by which Pittsburghers and its visitors can accomplish effective wayfinding and establishes a connected system that provides Direction, Information, and Destination to all those who visit this dynamic neighborhood. Innovation Oakland will augment the sense of place that currently exists by fostering greater awareness, participation, and sense of community. At present, there are several projects throughout the world that seamlessly integrate technology into an individual element of wayfinding. However, Innovation Oakland aims to be the first to successfully integrate new technologies throughout each element of its interconnected wayfinding strategy.

WAYFINDING IN THE 20th CENTURY

Wayfinding in the 20th century has relied primarily upon the use of analog signs–physical signage with static messaging. As towns and cities have grown, so has the quantity and types of signs needed to provide regulatory information and direct people at decision points and to destinations. Relying primarily upon this type of system results in such problems of outdated messaging and an increase in visual signage clutter.

Existing "Pittsburgh Wayfinder" Directional Sign

Where residents of other cities, devoid of the topographical challenges that exist in Pittsburgh, might provide directions by counting blocks or streetlights, or naming street intersections, Pittsburghers often use a different system. Such techniques might play a role, but where they fall short, the use of landmarks to aid in wayfinding works well and is part of the local cultural tradition. As an example, here might be a statement from a native Pittsburgher, spoken in the native dialect:

“To git to da Strip from da Sauthside, yinz need to head dahn Carson twerds Station Squere, turn right onta da Smithfeld Street Bridge, turn right at da end and head through sev’rel lights. Once yinz see da new Greyhawnd Station, you can turn left, then right onta Smallmen by da Convention Center…”

Due primarily to its hilly landscape, the City of Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities can be challenging to navigate. Furthermore, one cannot always rely upon word of mouth to get around. The peaks and valleys and converging rivers interrupt a network of scattered numbered street grids, can prove to be counterintuitive, and make navigating this city quite the learning experience. In the pedestrian-packed four square miles of Oakland alone, there are over thirty different sign types, several institutional signage standards and hundreds of unique signs. This is the result of years of relying only upon the outdated system of wayfinding in the 20th century.

WAYFINDING IN THE 21st CENTURY

Access to new technology infrastructure has become as essential as water, sewer, transportation, and electricity services in creating healthy and successful communities of the 21st century. Invention and innovation are at the core of the activities of successful communities. Having the ability for communities to embrace and integrate emerging and effective technologies will enhance the competitive edge of inventive and innovative cities like Pittsburgh.

Oakland is often referred to as the “second downtown” of Pittsburgh. It is located just a few miles southwest of the downtown core, is situated atop a plateau of sorts, between two tall hills, and is defined by two primary one-way roads known as the Fifth-Forbes Corridor. Branching off Fifth Avenue and Forbes Avenue is a grid of secondary streets that bring visitors into the various hospital, educational, cultural, and residential districts of the neighborhood. Where wayfinding based in navigating a street grid falls short throughout other areas of Pittsburgh, aspects of it work well in Oakland. To supplement the grid and its named and numbered street signs, wayfinding is aided by prominent landmarks, as exemplified by the towering Cathedral of Learning or the cultural fixture–Original Hotdog Shop–known simply as “The O.” Innovation Oakland will build upon this.

Oakland is urban. As part this distinction, it is built with a high density of buildings, many of which are several stories tall and block the fields of view of pedestrians. Without a guide or word of mouth to help them, visitors often have trouble determining where to go or how to get there. The connected system established by Innovation Oakland will enable visitors to take advantage of local wayfinding techniques while providing those needing additional help with other methods championed by various technologies. Expanding the use of digital technologies throughout the public realm of Oakland is seen as the starting point for the entire city. Establishing this access will provide the foundation for further expansion and will help support the growth of a digitally literate society throughout the city and beyond.