Helping people know where they are and where they can go
Good wayfinding gives people confidence. It helps visitors understand where they are, make decisions and move through a place without unnecessary uncertainty.
We create wayfinding systems and maps for parks, trails, visitor destinations, cultural sites and public places. From complex national parks to short walking tracks, our work brings together visitor journeys, decision points, information, maps and signs to create a coherent system.
The best wayfinding often goes unnoticed. People simply know where they are and what to do next.
A system, not a collection of signs
Effective wayfinding begins long before individual signs are designed.
We look at how people arrive, where they want to go and the decisions they need to make along the way. We consider the site as a whole, identifying destinations, routes, entry points, intersections and places where uncertainty is most likely.
From there, we develop a hierarchy of information. Each sign has a clear role and gives visitors what they need at that point in their journey.
This systems approach reduces unnecessary signage, avoids conflicting messages and creates a more consistent visitor experience.
What we deliver
Depending on the project, our work may include:
- site audits and sign inventories
- visitor journeys and movement analysis
- wayfinding strategies and plans
- destination naming and information hierarchy
- decision point and sign location planning
- sign schedules and message schedules
- map design and cartography
- sign families and design systems
- accessibility and legibility considerations
- production and implementation support
We can develop the complete wayfinding system or work with existing plans, branding and signage standards.
Mapping that makes complex places clear
A good map does more than show what is there. It helps people understand the shape of a place and make confident decisions.
We design maps specifically for the way they will be used. A trail map, national park orientation map, urban precinct map and illustrated visitor map each require a different balance of accuracy, detail and visual character.
We consider what visitors need to find, what can be simplified and what landmarks or landscape features will help them understand where they are.
The result is a map that communicates quickly without losing the character of the place.
What style of map?
There is no single right way to represent a place.
Illustrative maps
Illustration can give a map personality, reveal landmarks and help visitors understand the character of a place.
Topographic maps
Terrain, contours and landscape features can help visitors understand distance, elevation and the physical shape of the environment.
Simplified maps
Reducing a place to its essential routes, destinations and landmarks can make complex information easier to understand.
Spatial and site maps
Detailed site maps can organise facilities, buildings, paths and destinations within visitor precincts and complex public places.
The right approach depends on the audience, the environment and the decisions the map needs to support.
What style of sign is needed?
Wayfinding works as a sequence. Different signs answer different questions at different stages of the journey.
Arrival
Am I in the right place?
Entry and gateway signs confirm arrival and establish the identity of the destination.
Orientation
Where am I and what can I do here?
Orientation signs and maps help visitors understand the place, choose destinations and plan their journey.
Direction
Which way do I go?
Directional signs provide clear guidance at the points where visitors need to make a decision.
Confirmation
Am I still on the right route?
Markers and reassurance signs confirm that visitors are heading towards their destination.
Together, these elements create a continuous chain of information from arrival to destination.
Designed for the place
A remote walking track and a busy visitor precinct do not need the same wayfinding solution.
We consider the landscape, visitor behaviour, accessibility, maintenance and the character of the place. We also look for opportunities to reduce visual clutter and integrate wayfinding with interpretation, site identity and existing infrastructure.
Where appropriate, maps and wayfinding can form part of a broader design framework, helping different signs and visitor information work as one coherent system.
Explore our concept plans and visual style guides
Finding your way should feel effortless
Good wayfinding removes uncertainty. It allows visitors to spend less time working out where they are and more time experiencing the place around them.
We create systems that make complex places easier to understand, navigate and explore.
