1. Environmental Design + Wayfinding Course Environmental Design ARTG 4553
Time Tuesday + Friday 9:50–11:30
Place 305 Ryder
Instructor Ryan Sullivan ryan@pasteinplace.com
Office Hours By appointment
Flickr Group Wayfinding ARTG 4553
Course Description This course introduces basic concepts, research methods and design strategies for
wayfinding design. The course explores these themes in the context of a semester-long,
team project.
The project objective is to 1) employ a wide range of research strategies that identify
wayfinding opportunities and constraints and 2) develop design recommendations for
addressing the research insights.
Course Content The course will include lectures, guest lectures, readings, a semester-long team project
(involving research and design) and class critiques.
Course Goals > to learn and implement formal and ethnographic research methodologies for assessing
wayfinding
> to learn how to identify goals, opportunities and insights based on research
observations
> to learn how to develop wayfinding design recommendations based on research
insights
> to learn the basic critical language and procedures used in wayfinding design
> to explore methods for communicating and visualizing wayfinding design
recommendations
> to explore methods and strategies for working in a cross-disciplinary design team
Rules + Conditions Expectations
> students are expected to demonstrate systematic week-to-week progress;
> assignments are due as scheduled—late work only with written medical excuse;
> students are expected to participate in class critiques and discussions.
Class Attendance
> attendance to all classes is mandatory and will be recorded;
> absences will only be excused for a valid, verifiable medical or family emergency,
without exception. A written request to have an absence excused must be submitted
in the next class after an absence. It should include date of absence, reason, date
of submission, signature, to be considered. The decision to excuse rests with the
instructor.
> unexcused absences become part of the student’s record and affect the grade;
> 2 unexcused absences = being dropped from the class and failing this course.
punctuality
> classes begin on time;
> missing more than the first or last 15 minutes on three occasions = 1 unexcused
absence.
Note: if you are late or absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed from
fellow students. I will not reteach missed material. You must also make up missed work
by the next scheduled class.

2. Environmental Design + Wayfinding Course Environmental Design ARTG 4553
Time Tuesday + Friday 9:50–11:30
Place 305 Ryder
Instructor Ryan Sullivan ryan@pasteinplace.com
Office Hours By appointment
Flickr Group Wayfinding ARTG 4553
Grading Criteria In this course, you will learn by doing, not simply by observing:
> you are expected to present substantial new work at each class;
> works will be tracked weekly and a weak or incomplete response to an assignment,
sketch or final will result in a failing grade for that week;
> projects handed in over one week late will not be accepted for credit;
> late work will affect grading.
Students will be graded on originality of concept, quality of finished work, quality of
design/research process, participation in class activities, improvement during the course,
ability to work as a team, and helpfulness to other students in class.
Grades are based on:
60% concept + design/research solution (how well it solves the problem and
communicates info)
30% process + class participation
10% production + craft (quality of finished work)
note: no incomplete will be given except in case of extraordinary circumstances
note: for projects requiring team work, each student will be graded individually
based on their performance
Grading system according to University Policies (Office of the Provost, September 2002):
grade gpa equivalent numerical equivalent status
A 4.0 93 — 100 outstanding achievement
B 3.0 83 — 86 good achievement
C 2.0 73 — 76 satisfactory achievement
D 1.0 63 — 66 poor achievement
F 0.0 less than 60 unsatisfactory achievement (fail)
note: plus or minus designations (+, -) will be used in grading
All assignments will count equally towards the final grade.
Office Hours + Office hours are by appointment. I will be on campus and available on Tuesdays and
Assistance Fridays. Send an email to arrange an appointment:
email: ryan@pasteinplace.com

3. Environmental Design + Wayfinding Course Environmental Design ARTG 4553
Time Tuesday + Friday 9:50–11:30
Place 305 Ryder
Instructor Ryan Sullivan ryan@pasteinplace.com
Office Hours By appointment
Flickr Group Wayfinding ARTG 4553
Resources The books and urls listed here are a small portion of useful resources available. You are
invited to share resources you find relevant to wayfinding and design research methods.
The list will be updated during the course of this class.
Books Wayfinding
Berger, Craig. Wayfinding: Designing and Implementing Graphic Navigational Systems.
Calori, Chris. Signage and Wayfinding Design: A Complete Guide to Creating
Environmental Graphic Design Systems.
Carr, Stephen. City Signs and Lights.
Gibson, David. The Wayfinding Handbook: Information Design for Public Places.
Masaaki, Hiromura. Space Graphysm.
Meuser, Philipp and Daniela Pogade. Architecture.Information.Graphics: The Design of
Communication.
Mollerup, Per. Wayshowing.
Passini, Romedi. Wayfinding in Architecture.
Uebele, Andreas. Signage Systems & Information Graphics: A Professional Sourcebook.
Urban Design: Wayfinding/Experience/Imageability
Gehl, Jan. Life Between Buildings.
Lynch, Kevin. The Image of the City.
Venturi, Robert and Denise Scott Brown. Learning from Las Vegas.
Design Research
IDEO. IDEO Method Cards: 51 Ways to Inspire Design.
Websites Organizations
www.sign09.net (2009 Signage and Wayfinding Conference)
www.segd.org (Society of Environmental Graphic Design)
www.adaptenv.org (Institute for Human Centered Design, Boston)
www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/legible-london (Legible London)
Firms
www.2x4.org
www.ideo.com
www.ziba.com
www.brucemaudesign.com
www.dcontinuum.com
www.pentagram.com
www.twotwelve.com
www.joelkatzdesign.com

4. Environmental Design + Wayfinding Course Environmental Design ARTG 4553
Time Tuesday + Friday 9:50–11:30
Place 305 Ryder
Instructor Ryan Sullivan ryan@pasteinplace.com
Office Hours By appointment
Flickr Group Wayfinding ARTG 4553
Research + Design Strategy
January
12 15
Lecture: Intro to Course Lecture: Intro to Research
Work Session: Logistics Work Session: Knowledge-Gathering
19 22
Work Session: Knowledge- Presentation: Knowledge-
Gathering Gathering & Insights
26 29
Lecture: Guest G. Sullivan, IDEO Work Session: Field research
Work Session: Field research
February
2 5
Work Session: Field research Work Session: Field research
9 12
Work Session: Field research Work Session: Storytelling
16 19
Lecture: Guest? Work Session: Insights/Opps.
Work Session: Insights/Opps.
23 26
Work Session: Insights/Opps. Midterm Review: Research, Wayfinding Design
Insights and Design Opps.
March
9 12
Lecture: Wayfinding intro Work session: wayfinding design
Work Session: Design plan
16 19
Guest Lecture: Chris Pullman? Work session: wayfinding design
Work session: wayfinding design
23 26
Work session: wayfinding design Internal review: wayfinding design
April
30 2
Work session: wayfinding design Work session: wayfinding design
6 9
Work session: wayfinding design Final presentation production
13 16
Final presentation production Final presentation production
20
Final review