{"id":4351,"date":"2023-10-12T11:24:36","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T11:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/?p=4351"},"modified":"2025-04-09T12:55:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T12:55:34","slug":"the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4351\" class=\"elementor elementor-4351\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb4f78c elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fb4f78c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf8a0bc\" data-id=\"cf8a0bc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-721af21 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"721af21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300}\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26c6a31\" data-id=\"26c6a31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-714ee7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"714ee7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-94ef759\" data-id=\"94ef759\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01b39e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"01b39e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b36c1ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"b36c1ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5b4e2a4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/2023\/10\/12\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>October 12, 2023<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90b9a44 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90b9a44\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-19ad44a\" data-id=\"19ad44a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e48ef0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1e48ef0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"493\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-1024x631.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3086\" alt=\"Close up of a man&#039;s fingers interpreting a Direct Access braille map board for a museum. Specifically, an image of a tea cup, insinuating the location of an on-site cafe.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-1024x631.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-768x473.jpg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-1536x946.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Close-up-of-Map-2048x1262.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70163c5\" data-id=\"70163c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3f1fde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3f1fde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all. With the ease of availability of services such as Google Maps, finding your way from A to B has never been easier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, despite the ability to guide us through most populated environments on the planet, it remains the case that wayfinders developed by the big technology services are limited in their reliability, while any map connected to the internet via a smartphone is a convenient aid in today\u2019s digital age, even services like these aren&#8217;t enough to keep some of us from getting lost. This is especially true if you are a disabled person. As Google Maps often takes time to update, and the top satnavs still misinterpret the best routes to take, we still have a way to go to make wayfinding that is truly convenient and fully accessible.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s for these reasons that physical wayfinding such as static maps or paper maps is still utilised. Aside from being more professional, striking, and accessible, detailed physical wayfinding can help commercial businesses bring a positive visitor experience to the population. It\u2019s why we still see physical static maps used in entertainment complexes, shopping centres and malls, zoos, national parks, and heritage sites. Modern static signage is an integral part of architectural design, being useful for those who are not literate with technology, reliable if updated regularly, (and if designed properly) aesthetically pleasing.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd56615 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd56615\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ffec78\" data-id=\"1ffec78\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb90a54 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb90a54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what is wayfinding in a modern context? And how can we ensure that it legitimately serves everyone regardless of ability? <\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wayfinding is a set of graphic and text-based presentations that offer visitors information, helping people to navigate everywhere from huge urban settlements to small parks and trails. In effect, the goal is to educate its users on the immediate environment, allowing them to keep track of their surroundings and avoid getting lost. Using wayfinding signage, people can check where they are and where they want to go.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some might consider static maps old-fashioned given the real-time location-based response that a smartphone app offers its users. However, effective static maps offer various features that enhance usability, such as colour contrast between the elements presented, recognisable symbols and pictograms, large clear fonts, and are usually presented in well-lit areas, accommodating visually impaired individuals and making the best use of their residual vision &#8211; which is a factor that a mobile phone cannot duplicate to the same effect. Furthermore, the most effective physical wayfinding signage will minimise the use of reflective surfaces to further accommodate interpretation.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e9e6cb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e9e6cb4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b7b458\" data-id=\"2b7b458\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-834b18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"834b18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Static maps also assist site visitors in recalling complex layouts in a way that a small screen on a mobile phone cannot, such as hospitals, retail centres, and theme parks &#8211; areas which can often be a struggle, particularly during peak times when they are at their most overwhelmingly busy. Furthermore, they help people quickly identify a particular building or amenity on your site they want to visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall &#8211; accessible and inclusive signage and wayfinding has the power to not only accommodate, but empower, allowing disabled people to feel welcomed on your site, particularly those who have visual impairments, learning disabilities, or anxiety. By accommodating a broad range of visitors with different attributes, you also increase the likelihood of disabled populations interacting with and wanting to visit your site again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, it allows site owners to comply with the Equality Act, creating a culture of equal access to information, which is a key element in creating truly accessible built environments.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What is the most accessible form of Wayfinding?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">As the Direct Access team is formed of a diverse range of disabled people with different personal requirements, we have worked together to create our own unique map (the Tactile Map Board) &#8211; a static map that encompasses numerous different accessible elements, marrying the best elements of physical maps with the convenience of mobile phone technology, offering user identification, directional information, and information about the site itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By following the RNIB guidelines with tactile and Braille, we also included pictorial information and QR code technology, linking users to sign language content that describes the map and the various locations pictured, as well as audio descriptions of the users&#8217; location and where to find someone to assist you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"simplyweb-checked\"><span class=\"simplyweb-checked\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children can use it, elderly people can use it, and sign language users can use it. It is a map that creates access for everybody.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc1fab0\" data-id=\"fc1fab0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156f7c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"156f7c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"607\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-1024x777.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3075\" alt=\"A Tactile Braille Map Board displaying a museum map and its corresponding key, featuring QR codes and accompanying text which reads &quot;audio description&quot; and &quot;sign language&quot;.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-1024x777.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-300x228.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-768x583.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-1536x1166.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/IMG_9224-2048x1555.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-385adde elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"385adde\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d247e9e\" data-id=\"d247e9e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea8707a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea8707a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5b3935\" data-id=\"b5b3935\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e53612 elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"0e53612\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/etiquette-for-interacting-with-a-visually-impaired-person\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Etiquette for Interacting with a Visually Impaired Person<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/case-studies\/isle-of-man-health-social-care\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Isle of Man Health &#038; Social Care &#8211; Accessibility Audits<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e728e73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e728e73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88c3afb\" data-id=\"88c3afb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all. With the ease of availability of services such as Google Maps, finding your way from A to B has never been easier.\u00a0 However, despite the ability to guide us through most populated environments on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-4351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-accessibility-guidance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Direct Access\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DirectAccessGp\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Miller\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@DirectAccessGp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@DirectAccessGp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Michael Miller\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Miller\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/64f905bd0f656ae73f75fc4cb19ed034\"},\"headline\":\"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":751,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/1000004018-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"accessibility guidance\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/1000004018-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00\",\"description\":\"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/news\\\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/1000004018-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/1000004018-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1920,\"caption\":\"A middle aged man, Andy Lomas, poses for a photo behind a large tactile map board at a product and service conference. In the background is a poster banner for Direct Access showing a young man in a wheelchair cheering on a hillside.\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Direct Access\",\"description\":\"International award-winning disability and accessibility organisation led by disabled people.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Direct Access\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/Dark-Logo-Transparent-Background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/04\\\/Dark-Logo-Transparent-Background.png\",\"width\":1328,\"height\":262,\"caption\":\"Direct Access\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/DirectAccessGp\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/DirectAccessGp\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/direct-access-consultancy-ltd\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/directaccessconsultancy\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/directaccessgp.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/64f905bd0f656ae73f75fc4cb19ed034\",\"name\":\"Michael Miller\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Michael Miller\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access","description":"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access","og_description":"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.","og_url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/","og_site_name":"Direct Access","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DirectAccessGp\/","article_published_time":"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1920,"url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Michael Miller","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@DirectAccessGp","twitter_site":"@DirectAccessGp","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Michael Miller","Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Miller","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64f905bd0f656ae73f75fc4cb19ed034"},"headline":"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments","datePublished":"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/"},"wordCount":751,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg","keywords":["accessibility guidance"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/","url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/","name":"The Importance of Accessible Wayfinding in Commercial Environments - Direct Access","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2023-10-12T11:24:36+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-09T12:55:34+00:00","description":"In the past ten years or so wayfinding has undergone massive changes that has made getting around more accessible to all.","inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/the-importance-of-accessible-wayfinding-in-public-environments\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/1000004018-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1920,"caption":"A middle aged man, Andy Lomas, poses for a photo behind a large tactile map board at a product and service conference. In the background is a poster banner for Direct Access showing a young man in a wheelchair cheering on a hillside."},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/","name":"Direct Access","description":"International award-winning disability and accessibility organisation led by disabled people.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#organization","name":"Direct Access","url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Dark-Logo-Transparent-Background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Dark-Logo-Transparent-Background.png","width":1328,"height":262,"caption":"Direct Access"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DirectAccessGp\/","https:\/\/x.com\/DirectAccessGp","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/direct-access-consultancy-ltd\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/directaccessconsultancy\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/#\/schema\/person\/64f905bd0f656ae73f75fc4cb19ed034","name":"Michael Miller","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ade228b7aa4f7f7a49d278fb3c5394e95935e3860f004de3615bb830d47e34b7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Michael Miller"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4351"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4351\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}