WAYFINDING

NAVIGATING CULTURAL SPACES

IN CAPITOL HILL

PRODUCED BY:

MEGAN HERZOG
RUOHENG JIN
MATT LAIRD
DAT NGUYEN
JIA YUAN

ABOUT
MEGAN
presentation lead

RUOHENG
information lead

MATT
fieldwork lead

DAT
client-contact lead

JIA
evaluation lead

PROJECT
Create a new system of wayfinding for Seattles first Arts & Cultural
District in Capitol Hill
The system should:
Support arts and cultural organizations
Support locals and patrons
Be flexible and dynamic
Sustain an evolving audience
Respond to the existing environment

LOCATION

SEATTLE

CAPITOL HILL

PIKE / PINE

CONTEXT

CULTURAL SPACE HEAT MAP

ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

CLIENT

City of Seattle
Office of Arts & Culture
Cultural Space: Matthew Richter
Arts & Culture Districts: Capitol Hill
OAC Placemaking Toolkit: 8 tools
2. Wayfinding

OAC TOOLKIT

1.

District identification

2.

Cultural Wayfinding: This program will assist in guiding the public

from one artspace to another, or from one arts event to another, and
will take the form of mapping and branding individual buildings and
spaces as cultural space.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Street Performance & Open Air Painting Support

Art Historic Markers
Pop-up Space Activations
Parklets
B.A.S.E. Certification
Cultural Preservation & Landmarking

RESEARCH

1.

How have other areas addressed the problem?

2.

What technologies exist and are coming?

3.

What capacities exist within the city?

BLUE SYSTEM

Wayfinding in Seattle
Seattle Dept. of Transportation

Transit-based

Outdated

Graffiti canvas

High maintenance

Ineffective

THIS IS
WHAT
WE HAVE
TO WORK
WITH.

DIFFERENT PLACES, DIFFERENT NEEDS.

RED SYSTEM
City of Seattle Wayfinding
Sea Reach, Ltd.

Products include a design guide manual

with construction specifications

Designed to provide a seamless information

structure for both visitors and locals

The current system is pedestrian-focused

All City of Seattle Wayfinding imagery Copyright Sea Reach, Ltd.

BETTER
THAN
BEFORE.

DIFFERENT
PLACES,
DIFFERENT
NEEDS.

WATERFRONT SYSTEM

ACCESSIBLE, CULTURAL, ENGAGING

LAKE-TO-BAY SYSTEM

GETTING THE SYSTEM ON THE GROUND.

STQRY SYSTEM

A MOBILE
FOCUSED
FUTURE.

WALKING TOUR

site work
walking tour
(images from Dat)

BUILDING INVENTORY

Exterior Materials:
GLASS

16

BRICK

12

STONE

CONCRETE

WOOD

OBSERVATIONS
Summary of observations:

of the organizations are hidden inside of the

building rather than adjacent to the street

Most organizations are in disadvantaged

locations, rather than the core of the Arts &
Cultural District

Mobile navigation seems necessary for

outsiders to locate these organizations

Online advertising could be a wise strategy to

offset indistinct locations

PROCESS

Characteristics of the neighborhood:

Unique and defined identity

Lots of creative output in the neighborhood

High level of graffiti and stickers

Questions to address:

How can we conform to the existing identity?

How can wayfinding be both simple and artistic?

How can we avoid unwanted additions/vandalism to

wayfinding infrastructure?

PRODUCTS

The system should:

Presented from the viewpoints of:
Support arts and cultural organizations
Support locals and patrons
Be flexible and dynamic
Sustain an evolving audience
Respond to the existing environment

VISITORS / INDIRECT USERS

OUTSIDERS / NON-USERS

AUDIENCE / MAIN USERS

WAYFINDING: MAPS

MAP OF THE DISTRICT

Branded, graphic and directional

Pedestrian-focused, located on the sidewalk

Made with street spray paint

1.
2.

DIAMOND / EMERALD CITY

CIRCULAR / BRANDED

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

1.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

2.

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

WAYFINDING: MAPS

PROS

CONS

The city owns the sidewalk

Needs repetitive maintenance

Easy to install, update, and take off

Limited information

Cheap to maintain for short period time

Responds to the creative culture in the area
Accessible to all users
Fits into existing sidewalk infrastructure

VISITORS &
INDIRECT
USERS

WAYFINDING: POLES
PLACING POLES WITHIN THE DISTRICT

Works with the citys red system

Designs and manufacturing done in-house

Simple and directional

It leverages the investments that the city is

already making

OUTSIDERS
& NONUSERS

OUTSIDERS
& NONUSERS

WAYFINDING: POLES

PROS

CONS

Integrates Seattles existing wayfinding system

Stickers are unavoidable

Easy to maintain internally

It is not specific to Arts & Culture

Red color and i are recognizable

Flexible, signs can be changed
Can integrate other wayfinding elements

OUTSIDERS
& NONUSERS

WAYFINDING: PLAQUES

PLAQUES TO IDENTIFY ORGANIZATIONS

Approximately 8 in diameter

Made of metal (bronze, copper or brass)

Located on the exterior facade of buildings

1.
2.

DIAMOND / EMERALD CITY

CIRCULAR / BRANDED

AUDIENCE
& MAIN
USERS

1.

AUDIENCE
& MAIN
USERS

2.

AUDIENCE
& MAIN
USERS

2.

AUDIENCE
& MAIN
USERS

WAYFINDING: PLAQUES

PROS

CONS

Unique and culturally specific

Need permission from owners

Gives Arts & Culture an identity in the district

Unknown cost and installation

A timeless design
Blends into the existing environment
Opportunity for ceremonial events

AUDIENCE
& MAIN
USERS

RECOMMENDATIONS

This system would:

Support arts and cultural organizations
Support locals and patrons
Be flexible and dynamic
Sustain an evolving audience
Respond to the existing environment

WHATS NEXT?

Stakeholder Meeting
Major stakeholders
Present our report
Hear feedback

Wayfinding Implementation
Final designs
Site plan for buildings
Infrastructure

REFLECTION
What Worked:
Ideas were plentiful
Joining our skills

What we learned:
Designs are subjective
Context is important

What we might do differently:

Get in contact early
Engage the community