Wayfinding: What works for Disneyworld works for you

There aren’t many sites as big or complicated as Disney World or other complex campuses that integrate a variety of buildings with the people who live, work, and visit there.

Wayfinding is the profession of crafting buildings, rooms, and campuses so that you can get to where you want to go – and many of those tools and techniques apply equally well in your site’s architecture to help your users get from “here to there.”

This talks shows you
- How to recognize the wayfinding clues that are embedded in buildings and applications you use regularly.
- Leverage those clues in your own sites to craft a wayfinding-enabled UX that lets your users find your content

Transcript

1. Wayfinding What Works for Disney World, Works for You
2. Just Say No • Wayfinding is not required for sites – One click deep – Where everything is found by search
3. • Compulsive reader • Independent consultant: PH&V Information Services – 18 years without a job • Software developer • Technical writer/editor • UX designer • Instructor • Instructional designer Fundamentally: Anything for a Dollar
4. My Family My Dog
7. • It’s always persona(l) • People vary: study in Manchester Town Hall* – Some wandered for 30 minutes…never felt “lost” – Some went straight to their goal…still felt lost *Best, Gordon, “Direction Finding in Large Buildings”, 1970
8. Sure, there exists a person who… I’m not going to design for that person (but I will give them a phone number to call)
9. Wayfinding Begins • With arousal – Tie content and visual design to the user’s values • Being lost is exciting • But also stressful – Too much stress encourages mistakes
11. First Impressions • You present as an image • Which your user must understand
13. Opening Gambits • Leverage what your users know • You want to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean – What do you need to know to use this signpost?
14. Wayfinding Process
20. Wayfinding Process 1. Orient 2. Plan: Choose a route 3. Confirm: Look for feedback on the way 4. Recognize you’ve achieved your goal
21. 1. Support Orientation/Planning • First, reduce noise* (arousal) – Interferes with seeing where you are – Don’t be any more arousing than you have to be • Use recognizable names for destinations – Is it “The Planetarium” or “The McLaughlin”? • Only tell the user what they need right now – Planning is, initially big picture: I’ll get close then I’ll figure it out – So you just support making “the next decision” *The librarians favourite piece of advice
22. Where to Put Orientation Information • Where will the eye go first? • Wherever that is, that’s where you – Tell the user where they are – Start giving them the tools to plan their route
23. • Where am I? – Just above dead center
24. • Where am I? – Upper left hand corner
25. Support Planning • Provide the tools for finding their way • Enough to make “the next decision”
26. Support Two Planning Styles • Users make “the next decision” two ways Linear Spatial
27. Planning: Linear • I go here, then I go there (Directions) Reference Humanities Archeology
28. Planning: Spatial • It’s over there, beside that one (Maps) Reference Humanities Archeology
29. Which Are You? Reference Humanities Archeology Reference Humanities Archeology
30. It’s Not Either/Or
31. Recognize Your Limitations • You only use one planning style – You probably can’t design for “the other one” • This is why UX design is a team sport
32. Support Feedback and Recognition • Supporting orientation helps: – Tells people where they are – Breadcrumbs are not enough: The just tell the user where they’ve been • Supporting planning helps – Tells users where they can go • How will your users recognize when they get there? – Be specific: What tells users they’ve arrived?
33. Who Here… • Has ever correctly assembled Ikea furniture without an error?
34. That Being the Case… • People make mistakes – Orientation should help users realize that – And then..
36. Summing Up Wayfinding • Use it when you need it • Make it interesting • Figure out what your users know (and exploit it) • Let your users know where they are (orientation) – Also, helps when they end up in the wrong place • Make planning obvious – Just need to support “the next decision” • Let people know they’re getting closer – And when they get there – Supporting orientation/planning helps here, also
38. • Assume you won’t get it right: – Test, Test, Test • Assume you didn’t get it right: – Monitor, Monitor, Monitor • Talk, Talk, Talk to your users to understand the data • Data diffuses doubts, testimony defeats ignorance Don’t Get Cocky!
40. Thank you! peter.vogel@phvis.com