Designing virtual spaces for optimal wayfinding

Abstract

Wayfinding refers to process of locating a destination through information in the environment. Space planning is a process that analyses functional requirements, spatial relationships, and design constraints to optimize the layout of a space. Space syntax is made up of two measurable terms: visibility and integration. This research aims to understand the correlation between space syntax (visibility and integration) and wayfinding, and whether stress levels play a pivotal role in one's general wayfinding capabilities.

A series of experiments were conducted using the concepts of space planning, to investigate the relationship between the space syntax score and the speed of navigating a space, as well as to investigate the effect of stress on wayfinding. The results show that, to a convincing extent, space syntax scores are a key indicator of whether a space is designed for good wayfinding. With better spaces, namely integration and visibility, participants were able to navigate spaces in a shorter period. Additionally, stress affects an individual’s wayfinding capabilities and similarly, making poor navigational decisions increases stress levels.