Table of Contents
Learning Options
With a PhD in Wayfinding and published on the subject, I also provide structured university lessons, modules, and classes. The options are:
- Online and distance learning modules.
- Teacher’s package with all of the PowerPoint slides, teacher’s handbook with lesson plans, student handouts and everything needed,
provided as a digital download.
Undergraduate and Masters Studies
Topics Covered Include:
1.Introduction to Wayfinding
Defining wayfinding and its relationship with navigation, wayfaring, and discussion around the places, locations and situations where wayfinding takes place.
The module will include consideration for the reasons why wayfinding is important such as because of safety, user experience, for creating commercial opportunities, etc.
Also, the module covers how the different disciplines including sociology, cultural studies, psychology, urban studies, human geography, city planning, architecture, business studies, and design relate to wayfinding.
This is a chance for students also to draw on their own experiences of how they use wayfinding.
So, the module design incorporates activities and guided discussions about wayfinding experience, in order for students to relate to the topic on a practical level.
2. Signage Design and Basics for Directing People
Included in the signage lesson/s are:
- Understanding the specifics of how to design signs for wayfinding (including how to use arrows on signs, color coding and much more).
- Nomenclature and signs.
- Designing for multi-cultural users and for different and multiple-languages on signage.
- How to audit a location for re-designing wayfinding signage.
3. Accessible Environments and Disability
The module cover understanding the importance of making locations and environments suitable for all users regardless of their physical or mental disability.
The course design also includes discussion around laws and legislation such as the Equality Act in the UK and DDA (Disability Discrimination Act). This can be tailored to be country-specific i.e. for U.S. laws for American Universities.
This section of the course includes case studies on common issues for wheelchair users and example solutions.
4. Human Geography, Navigation, and Wayfinding
Wayfinding and Human Geography overlap in many ways and the connections are looked at.
Wayfinding can, for example, be extended on a more theoretical level to include the migration and movement of people, the routes they take, and how they find and choose their way.
Furthermore, human geography in wayfinding relates to how users interact with the natural environment (including natural landmarks such as rivers and mountains), to man-made environments.
Human Geography and Wayfinding is a lesson of its own in the wayfinding course materials.
5. The Role of Stakeholders & Commercial Opportunities in Wayfinding
Wayfinding is also very important in terms of Business Studies and Stakeholder Studies and this is discussed in one lesson.
Many routes that we are guided along are not necessarily the easiest or quickest but are routes that offer commercial benefits to the location owner.
One lesson covers wayfinding and navigation from the perspective of business owners, suppliers, and stakeholders.
6. Basic Wayfinding Strategies and Techniques
One lesson is spent discussing different strategy types and provides a chance for students to consider how they
The research from my own PhD wayfnding research, found that asking others for directions (a sociocultural technique) was more popular than using signage, maps, or any other technique in urban locations and city centers.
The complexities of designing spaces that are easier to navigate in locations such as shopping malls, university campuses, city centers, sports stadia, etc. are discussed, with different techniques in mind.
Further Lessons
There are numerous lessons and classes that involve wayfinding and that we can include and that we tend to customize according to the modules required at any given university.
We can provide teaching in a variety of formats, such as seminaries, interactive lectures, and workshops.
We are happy to chat with you if you require wayfinding lessons, classes, or modules designed or taught at your university.
We are both doctors with teaching experience in universities (including the University of Bath, UK) and online. We can provide a high standard of lessons.
Teachers Packages
What’s Included
- PowerPoint Slides for each lesson and class
- Teachers Handbook, including lessons plans (printable)
- Student Handbooks (printable)
- Student handouts
- Lesson activities
- Coursework suggestions and outlines
Contact Us
If you require either a:
- A custom-made set of course materials for lessons, classes, and modules for university-level or college-level learning.
- Pre-designed teaching materials for teaching individual lessons, classes, workshops or modules on wayfinding.
- Or if you need the lecturer (teacher) to provide this course online or in-person, let us know. As a married couple, between us, as Dr Paul Symonds and Dr Valeria Lo Iacono (Symonds), we have PhDs in wayfinding and cultural heritage published several peer-reviewed academic papers and taught in several universities including the University of Exeter and University of Bath (both UK).
