For primary research I went round and photographed way finding and symbols that I found within the city of Leeds, it was interesting to see if people took notice of it, how much of a difference it made and how similar it was, even when used for different contexts.
Around Leeds Trinity, they have huge rectangle signs with maps and floor numbers to help visitors and the public find where they are. Different colours have been used to distinguish the different levels, therefore to make it quicker to find where they are on the map. The symbols used for the toilets are extremely objective and are the same as you see everywhere. Frutiger's ideas have been applied by the use of the square, using a symbolic, strong object, as it creates a boundary for each of the symbols creating a sense of safety. It also means the symbols are now into a grid, it is easier to look at and find for the public where to go.
In the toilets within Trinity Kitchen, neon lighting has been used for way finding,, it means it stands out, it looks different from all the other way finding I had found around Leeds. It catches people's attention and they stop to look or take a photograph. It almost exists as a piece of artwork as well as a direction, instead of fitting in with the surroundings it does the complete opposite. This is more subjective than those we have seen, although through the use of text rather than symbols it does make it more obvious. The shape used, isn't actually an arrow, it is a shape however this idea of a simple, two oblique lines joined together, taken from Frutiger, it creates movement, without a vertical line means it isn't as agressive or forceful. These arrows have stronger movement and subconsciously we see the space within the line rather than the line itself, therefore our eye travels to the shape then the text, straight away telling us where to go. A real arrow with an acute angle, and a central , vertical line actually provokes feelings of aggression and anxiety, therefore using just two simple lines is more approachable, especially as the direction of the toilets is quite a personal thing.
In the toilets, they have different symbols for the differing toilet facilities and it shows directly who should use them. These are extremley objective. what you see is what you get. As usually people using these facilities are in a rush, and don't have time to think. It needs to be obvious straight away, also it needs to be so children are also able to understand as well, as these are also used by children.
When walking into the town centre, I realised I was walking within the bike lane, along with many other people. This shows that many people don't pay attention to where they are walking and actually ignores symbols given to them. It was also beginning to wear away and it no longer stood out within the road.
When visiting The Core, there way finding system had something original to them, it was not the same as everywhere else. each of the symbols has a double line around them when hey have been drawn out. This is to give the core their own sense of personality and style, it is recognisable as their own facilities. However the symbols used are still very objective and they are the usual symbols you would expect to see, just drawn differently.
This was a prime example of how sometimes way finding systems are ignored, therefore it doesn't stand out enough or it just doesn't look interesting enough to turn people's heads.
When giving instructions, rather than directions, a circle is used as a circle emits emotions of anxiety and the feeling of unsafe. Therefore where danger may happen, you need to touch people emotionally to make more of an impact. Subconsciously the feeling that that circles give, make people follow the instructions, as they no longer want theses feelings. On the other hand the circle also represents safety, which implies that if you follow the instructions given you will be safe and won'e get into any trouble. The circle portrays movement, therefore shows the context when it is placed onto a moving object, the ongoing rotation of the escalator relates to the ongoing line within a circle.
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