orientation by context

diana frank

orientation by context, not by text

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orientation by context, not by text by diana frank

orientation and context how does orientation work?how do signs speak?

spatial relation ↔ informationattraction ↔ informationneed ↔ information

don’t make me re-think

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orientationis a function of the mind involving awareness of three dimensions: time, place and person. [Berrios G E,1982]

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contextNothing we use for orientation is free from context.

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textCan we ”read” signs without reading the written information on it?

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how does orientation work?– remember learned ways – looking for obvious ways– using a map– following the inner logic of the building or area – reading signs– asking people– trial and error – following the crowd – …

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how do signs speak?– information is always provided in a given context – so the value of a sign is highly influenced by its context

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next to text– situation– position of a sign, spatial information – kind, form and proportion of a sign– material and environment contrast– visibility– consistency within a system– self-evident (sign or no sign)– relevance (need)– …


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signs speak

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… and often confuse

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spatial relation ↔ information– we scan our environment– we just recognize what we need– we look for the strongest cue (concerning our demand)– we follow our interpretations, not signs – signs are just one part of the big picture

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spatial relation ↔ information– we scan our environment– we just recognize what we need– we look for the strongest cue (concerning our demand)– we follow our interpretations, not signs – signs are just one part of the big picture

– interpretation of a situation depends on context– personal situation (stress, time pressure) is also context

outstanding

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framed

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directly related

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directed

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funnel-shaped

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basic spatial realtions

light toweroutstanding

focusframed

next optiondirectly related

flowdirecting

stationsfunnel-shaped

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attraction ↔ information– spatial context beats arrows – light is a very strong attractor for orientation purpose– context of signs is often stronger than the text on it

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attraction ↔ information– spatial context beats arrows – light is a very strong attractor for orientation purpose– context of signs is often stronger than the text on it

… better to guide with attractors than signs… hard to guide with signs “against” strong attractors

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where to go..?

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tokyu hands ?

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need ↔ information– users see what they know, what they need or what they expect – other things are frequently not noticed at all

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westside

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directions?

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nagoya

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orientation and guiding– is about explicit information– information by need – information in time– how to keep it simple

… and not about re-routing

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don‘t make me re-think– consistency beats design– once users have learned a system they are not willing to re-think– users do not even notice change of situations, just when they fail to do what they want to do they wonder

Cappuccino?

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more Cappuccino?

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questions?

applications of information Design 20080627


[email protected]

applications of information Design 20080627


orientation by context

Design

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