Are you a student and wondering what the difference between wayfinding vs navigation is and how these two topics interact? This post is for you.
Table of Contents
Wayfinding Definitions
To give you a couple of definitions first. The definition that I gave in an academic paper a few years ago is:
Wayfinding is the cognitive and corporeal process and experience of locating, following or discovering a route through and to a given space.
I chose this definition because it includes consideration for:
- How wayfinding is psychological (we think about how to find the way), social (we ask others for directions and other people for example design the signage and wayfinding for us)
- Is experiential (emotions are central to wayfinding i.e. the stress of getting lost or the thrill of navigating on a trek or of finding a certain location)
- Is about locating (finding) and following a route
- A specific location
The expression “way finding” as two words is said to date back to the days when islanders in the Polynesian Islands found ways to navigate across the oceans using the stars and landmarks (such as other islands).
In another academic articles, Golledge gives the definition:
“Wayfinding is the process of determining and following a path or route between an origin and a destination. It is purposeful, directed, and motivated activity”
Wayfinding vs Navigation What are the Key Differences?
There is no exact right or wrong answer regards the differences between navigation and wayfinding, although as you will see in this article, I take the approach that navigation is a sub-set of wayfinding and I’ll explain why in this post.
In fact, some people use the two terms interchangeably, meaning that they see them as the same thing.
If you are a student then you might want to download for free the Wayfinding PhD I wrote and I’ve added a link to download the PhD in the resources for this lesson in case you want to read in detail.
On page 24 of the PhD you can view detailed references about this topic of navigation vs wayfinding.
Some academics who have researched wayfinding see it as a sub-set of navigation i.e. just one part of navigation.
Other academics and researchers such as myself consider navigation a sub-set i.e. a part of wayfinding and I set it out as shown onscreen.
Navigation I see as how to get from A to B i.e. from one place to another.
Wayfinding I see as involving not only the navigational element but also involved:
- The user experience (what is the experience of the route like? Did you enjoy finding your way around the cruise ship? Or through Disney World? Or NYC?
- Is the route designed to offer shareholders i.e. business owners profitability to stay in business?
- Are we guiding visitors past all of the shops in a shopping mall, for example?
Also, inclusion and ensuring that routes are designed for all users. This I see as a part of wayfinding.
The image below perfectly highlights wayfinding vs navigation differences with an accessible ramp, it is not something you need for navigating, but it is part of the overall wayfinding system to help people get from A to B.
Navigation Explained
In academia, there are some differences in how wayfinding and navigation are seen.
For some academics, they see wayfinding and navigation as pretty much the same thing.
Others think of wayfinding as something that comes under navigation, and others see navigation as a part of wayfinding.
The position I take is that navigation is a part of wayfinding, with wayfinding including everything from accessible design to the overall user experience, and a number of elements beyond just the navigation element.
Navigation I would posit is certainly important but it is subsumed as one part of the overall practice of getting somewhere, that is, of wayfinding.
Indeed, the planning of a route is not the art of navigating or navigation itself. I would suggest it is wayfinding i.e. the overall planning, navigating, signage making, and the overall process the is wayfinding design and strategy.
Wayfinding is More Holistic and Includes
The overall wayfinding system and strategy includes factors such as:
- Authorities and regulations = local councils with route planning such as the layout of roads and traffic lights. Also rural rights of access and so on.
- Service providers = tour guides who help us find the way, transportation providers and so on.
- Signage makers and architects = influence the process
- Navigation = The act of actually navigating in real-time is one aspect of the process of wayfinding.
- Re-planning = Often a key aspect of wayfinding
- Technology could also be included as could some other factors that influence wayfinding.
- A Wayfinding Audit will often include many of these areas.
Summary
Let’s summarise what we’ve discussed, Wayfinding is the broader and more holistic area and it encompasses the whole process of how people are able to guide and orient themselves and move through an environment.
It involves understanding:
- Orientating yourself, and finding as way to get to your desired destination
- Inclusive and accessible design
- Retail and commercial steering behaviour.
- Creating a positive User Experience
Wayfinding involves a number of things including:
- Cognitive processes
- Environmental design
- Strategic Thinking
It is about helping individuals find their way, often focusing on creating intuitive and accessible spaces.
Navigation, on the other hand, is a more specific and practical aspect of wayfinding.
It is the actual process of moving from one point to another, often using tools such as maps, GPS systems, or directional signs.
While navigation is crucial for helping people follow a specific route, it generally focuses more on the mechanics of movement (i.e. turn left, turn right, or go straight ahead for example), rather than being about the overall experience of the movement and experience of getting to your destination.
Why Navigation is a Subset of Wayfinding:
- Scope: Wayfinding includes the broader strategies of how environments are designed to guide people, while navigation is the action of following those guides.
- Experience vs. Execution: Wayfinding considers the user’s overall experience, including how welcoming, clear, and accessible a space feels. Navigation is the execution of the pathfinding within that space.
- Design Elements: Wayfinding can include the strategic placement of landmarks, the use of colours and symbols, and creating a coherent spatial narrative. Navigation uses those elements to provide precise directions or steps.
Example of Wayfinding vs Navigation
For example, in a hospital, wayfinding involves creating a design strategy with clear signage, an intuitive layout, and accessible information to help patients feel comfortable and find their destination.
Navigation, then, is the act of following the signs to reach the cardiology department.
In essence, while all navigation involves wayfinding, not all wayfinding involves navigation.
Wayfinding is the overarching strategy, and navigation is one of the tools within that strategy.
Wayfinding Training
