As our first task to complete, we had to choose one of the many types of information graphics that was discussed in the first session and then research them in more detail. I chose wayfinding as it is such a huge part of everyone’s life.
History of Wayfinding Info Graphics
Way back in the year 3000 B.C., Polynesians found their way (it was not known as wayfinding at this time) using the sun, the moon, waves, stars and which direction animals are going, for example, birds.
Fast forward to the year 300 B.C. and the Romans have built roads to easily travel between cities and camps. This gave them the incentive to build wayfinders (still not called that) so they placed stone pillars alongside the roads that informed travellers of places, distances and mile markers.
Henry Ford creates the first affordable car for the general public in 1908. This meant that need for wayfinding (still not) was increased as there were more people on roads than ever.
27 years later, in 1935, the first American roadsigns were created, thus making transport via road easier and safer for everyone.
In 1960, the human race finally starts using the term; “wayfinding” in Kevin Lynch’s book; “The Image of the City”. This book was created to look at how people use their environments to find their way around a city.
The Summer Olympics in Tokyo, 1964, used pictograms to inform people from around the world about the event, including 20 sports specific pictograms and 39 pictograms for general info about the Olympics.
Modern day wayfinding have been more inventive and original even including some optical illusions within the infographic.
Graphicproducts.com. (2020). Basics of Wayfinding | Graphic Products. [online] Available at: https://www.graphicproducts.com/infographics/basics-of-wayfinding/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2020].
Peate, S. (2018). Where do we go now? Exploring the wonders of wayfinding design. [online] Fabrikbrands.com. Available at: https://fabrikbrands.com/the-wonders-of-wayfinding-design/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2020].
References
Information Graphics 