The concept of wayfinding as a criterion of design:  definitions and debates

Wayfinding is finding of the way that reaches the particular destination of individuals without any delays or concerns. Although moving from one space to another is a straightforward and daily phase, losing one�s way may turn out to be an annoying experience, resulting in anxiety and nuisance. Negative consequences like these caused by direction loss have turned the concept of wayfinding to a non-negligible criterion in design. This text aims at meeting designers with the concept, bringing its significance forward and raising awareness as well. At the same time, it is a theoretical compilation for future research. Observing the city, the individual can perceive the environmental elements and communicate with the whole while (s)he is in motion. The substantiality of movement, i.e. wayfinding in space in accordance with a purpose comes on the scene at this point. During the period of wayfinding, cognitive maps that enable the movements of individuals within the environment are used. Therefore, convenience of the formation of the cognitive map and its completeness affect the wayfinding behavior in an environment. Visual access to spatial clues, architectural differences, usage of signage and spatial configurations are considered to be the variables that influence the wayfinding experience. The feasibility of direction finding of a built environment is an outstanding architectural criterion for both users and perception of service and brand identity in that environment. Consequently, that designers and urban planners focus on the concept at the intellectual phase of design has importance in designing environments with feasible wayfinding.

Keywords: Wayfinding, navigation, locomotion, wayfinding and legibility, spatial orientation, spatial cognition.

Bir tasar�m �l��t� olarak y�n bulma kavram�: tan�mlar ve tart��malar

Beg�m Er�evik S�nmez, Deniz Erinsel �nder
Y�ld�z Teknik �niversitesi Mimarl�k Fak�ltesi Mimarl�k Ana Bilim Dal�, �stanbul

Y�n bulma, bireylerin gecikme ve yersiz endi�e ya�amadan, hedeflerine giden yolu bulabilmeleridir. Bir mekandan di�erine hareket etmek kadar kolay ve g�nl�k bir s�re�ken; yolunu kaybetmek can s�k�c� bir deneyime d�n��ebilmekte; korku ve s�k�nt� ya�anmas�na neden olabilmektedir. Y�n bulamaman�n yaratt�� bu gibi olumsuz durumlar, y�n bulma kavram�n� tasar�mda g�z ard� edilmemesi gereken bir �l��t haline getirmi�tir. Bu metin, tasar�mc�lar� y�n bulma kavram� ile tan��t�rmay�, kavram�n �nemini g�ndeme getirmeyi ve fark�ndal�k yaratmay� da ama�lamaktad�r. Ayn� zamanda gelecek ara�t�rmalar i�in kuramsal bir derleme niteli�indedir. Birey, hareket halindeyken kenti g�zlemlemekte; �evresel ��eleri alg�layabilmekte ve b�t�nle ili�ki kurabilmektedir. Mekan i�inde bir ama� do�rultusunda hareketin yani y�n bulma eyleminin �nemi bu noktada ortaya ��kmaktad�r. Y�n bulma s�recinde, bireylerin �evre i�indeki hareketlerine olanak sa�layan bili�sel haritalar kullan�lmaktad�r. Dolay�s�yla, bili�sel haritan�n olu�umundaki kolayl�k ve bili�sel haritan�n eksiksizli�i, bir �evredeki y�n bulma davran��n� etkilemektedir. Mekansal ipu�lar�na g�rsel eri�im, mimari farkl�la�malar, i�aret sistemlerinin kullan�m� ve plan bi�imleni�leri y�n bulma deneyimini etkileyen de�i�kenler olarak de�erlendirilmektedir. Yap�l� �evrenin y�n bulunabilir olmas�, hem kullan�c�lar hem de o �evrede sunulan hizmet ve marka kimli�inin alg�s� a��s�ndan �nemli bir mimari �l��tt�r. Dolay�s�yla tasar�mc�lar�n ve kent planc�lar�n�n tasar�m�n d��nsel a�amalar�nda y�n bulma kavram� �zerine e�ilmeleri, y�n bulunabilir �evreler tasarlamak a��s�ndan �nemlidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Y�n bulma, navigasyon, gezinti, y�n bulma ve okunakl�l�k, mekansal oryantasyon, �evresel bili�.

Beg�m Er�evik S�nmez, Deniz Erinsel �nder. The concept of wayfinding as a criterion of design: definitions and debates. Megaron. 2015; 10(3): 355-364

Corresponding Author: Beg�m Er�evik S�nmez, T�rkiye

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