From my understanding, (in the context of a shopping mall) Navigational designs are simply put, the signage that direct people to the place they wish to go but have no idea how to. For example, we normally wonder where the toilets are in a mall, we automatically put out heads up searching for the toilet signboard to find directions instead of asking people the rather embarrassing question (of course, that would always be the last resort anyway).
Or how about when we need to quickly get to the ATM machine to withdraw some money for the last pair of shoes in a shop. Again, refer to the dutiful sign boards above our heads to find the ATM machines. And when we cant remember how to get back to the previous shop after getting the cash, look to the sign board again!
Those 'life saving' sign boards are designed to navigate shoppers to the places of convenience they need to go to. It really saves a lot of effort and time. Some people may just be shy to ask or even have no clue where the information counter is. And believe or not, not all the staff in a shopping mall know exactly where all the shops are anyway.
To research about this, I went to Sunway Pyramid. Obviously from the name, it's a concept shopping mall with an Egyptian theme. Here are the signages:
Image 1These are taken at G floor. There are about 4 levels for shopping in Sunway Pyramid and another 2 levels above for parking.
The signage have hieroglyph inspired graphics in the background that gives a continuity to the Egyptian theme of the shopping mall. These boards were taken at the Orange atrium, hence the sign boards are orange. They show directions to basic facilities like the toilet, ATM, Exit, escalators and elevators.
Since Sunway Pyramid is a big shopping mall, the sign boards would also show directions to different departmental stores in the mall (Jusco and Parkson) which is very useful since those stores are also located each with an entrance to go outside of the mall.
Image 2
These were taken at LG floor.(*except for the bottom right corner) To distinguish the different sign boards at different levels, these are in red with the same basic template of a hieroglyph patterned background. As for the picture at the bottom right corner, this was a sign board above an exit to a car park at G floor. Outside the entrance, there is also a toilet, therefore they distinguished the directions before people exited the glass doors. A handy direction of the Autopay station is also shown for people to pay their parking tickets before leaving the mall.
Image 3
Another signage of a store in the mall. In a way, it's an advertising space and navigational design for the particular store. These stands are usually located near the escalators since it's a place people WILL and MUST pass by frequently. Again, they added a touch of hieroglyph patterns on the metal part of the stand. I think that they made the shape of the stand rectangle to make them look like a tomb stone, another touch of Egyptian themed decor.
Image 4
Image 5
Here is an interesting navigational design found in Sunway Pyramid. The mall has another outer section of restaurants. Shoppers inside the mall would not notice these restaurants, especially those who enter from the parking lot entrances/exits instead of the main entrance. For example, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restuarant has made a sign board of some sort at one of the columns inside the shopping mall. The sign leads people to a shortcut/walk way to the restaurant's location. Along the walls of the shortcut, Bubba Gump has decorated the walls with their restaurant decor which is a nice touch of 'extending their restaurant out' to people. We can get a glimpse of how the restaurant is like and go on ahead to it. It created a desire and navigated people to their restaurant, effective navigational design, indeed!!
All in all, Sunway Pyramids' navigational design is very good and sticks to one theme that reflects the identity of the shopping mall itself. Not only do they have good navigational functions, but the various signage also double as an advertising medium for the shops in the mall. Now, no one would ever get lost in Sunway Pyramid or wonder what to eat/how to get the restaurant anymore! ;)
The signage have hieroglyph inspired graphics in the background that gives a continuity to the Egyptian theme of the shopping mall. These boards were taken at the Orange atrium, hence the sign boards are orange. They show directions to basic facilities like the toilet, ATM, Exit, escalators and elevators.
Since Sunway Pyramid is a big shopping mall, the sign boards would also show directions to different departmental stores in the mall (Jusco and Parkson) which is very useful since those stores are also located each with an entrance to go outside of the mall.
Image 2These were taken at LG floor.(*except for the bottom right corner) To distinguish the different sign boards at different levels, these are in red with the same basic template of a hieroglyph patterned background. As for the picture at the bottom right corner, this was a sign board above an exit to a car park at G floor. Outside the entrance, there is also a toilet, therefore they distinguished the directions before people exited the glass doors. A handy direction of the Autopay station is also shown for people to pay their parking tickets before leaving the mall.
Image 3Another signage of a store in the mall. In a way, it's an advertising space and navigational design for the particular store. These stands are usually located near the escalators since it's a place people WILL and MUST pass by frequently. Again, they added a touch of hieroglyph patterns on the metal part of the stand. I think that they made the shape of the stand rectangle to make them look like a tomb stone, another touch of Egyptian themed decor.
Image 4Of course, like all shopping malls, there will be a Directorial board at every floor of the shopping mall. They are usually found near the escalators as well. The board is designed to be slanted so that more people can refer to it easily. It's like a giant book that people can comfortably lean over and search for the destination of choice. The left and right panel of the directory board will list all shops available according to type (F&B, Fashion for Women, Fashion for Men and etc.) The centre panel would show the layout map of the shopping mall and where your current location is.
Image 5Here is an interesting navigational design found in Sunway Pyramid. The mall has another outer section of restaurants. Shoppers inside the mall would not notice these restaurants, especially those who enter from the parking lot entrances/exits instead of the main entrance. For example, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restuarant has made a sign board of some sort at one of the columns inside the shopping mall. The sign leads people to a shortcut/walk way to the restaurant's location. Along the walls of the shortcut, Bubba Gump has decorated the walls with their restaurant decor which is a nice touch of 'extending their restaurant out' to people. We can get a glimpse of how the restaurant is like and go on ahead to it. It created a desire and navigated people to their restaurant, effective navigational design, indeed!!
All in all, Sunway Pyramids' navigational design is very good and sticks to one theme that reflects the identity of the shopping mall itself. Not only do they have good navigational functions, but the various signage also double as an advertising medium for the shops in the mall. Now, no one would ever get lost in Sunway Pyramid or wonder what to eat/how to get the restaurant anymore! ;)
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