7th
August
2001
Wayfinding Is Not Signage
“Even though signage plays an important role in wayfinding, the process doesn’t rely exclusively on signs. The term ‘wayfinding’ was first used in 1960 by architect Kevin Lynch in The Image of the City, where he referred to maps, street numbers, directional signs and other elements as ‘way-finding’ devices. This narrow description may explain the current misunderstanding that wayfinding is essentially the same as ’signage.’ The two terms are not synonymous. Signmakers deal with designing, fabricating and installing signs. However, wayfinding used to navigate unfamiliar environments, doesn’t rely exclusively on signs.”