A campus-wide wayfinding system for Tianhe Culture, covering the headquarters lobby, exhibition spaces and theaters, teaching and office areas, shared amenities and outdoor pedestrian routes.
The goal is a repeatable, maintainable and expandable wayfinding system for an environment with multiple entrances, uses and overlapping schedules. It helps first-time visitors find their bearings within 30 seconds and enables resident teams to move and coordinate efficiently.
Site Assessment and Principles
Site surveys and pedestrian-flow sampling revealed fragmented information, discontinuous numbering, reflective materials that reduced nighttime legibility, and a lack of standards for temporary notices. Three principles address these issues. Structure first: establish a hierarchy of routes and decision points before developing visual decoration. Consistency first: unify naming, coding and layouts across buildings. Operations first: make all variable information replaceable in 5–10 minutes.
System Strategy
The methodology combines one grid, two viewing ranges, three sign types, four coding levels and five delivery stages. One grid: a consistent 8 pt/4 mm module governs layouts and hardware tooling, creating a coherent appearance across venues. Two viewing ranges: 10–25 m for exterior approach and main destination directories; 1–7 m for directions and rules, each with defined type size, contrast and illuminance thresholds. Three sign types: permanent signs for entrances, floor directories and zones; variable information for exhibition titles, performance times and meeting schedules; and temporary guidance for queue management and maintenance diversions. All use standardized magnetic or slide-in fittings. Four coding levels: campus–building–floor–room, combining letters and numbers. The system integrates with ticketing and security and allows each building to expand independently. Five delivery stages: survey, prototyping, pilot refinement, full rollout, and handover of the asset register and standard operating procedures.
Visual and information rules
Color: deep graphite and ivory form the base palette, with Tianhe Blue providing functional emphasis. Safety and accessibility use high-visibility yellow and internationally standardized green. Typography and sizing: highly legible Chinese and Latin sans-serif typefaces give both languages equal prominence. Main directory lettering is at least 120 mm, zone lettering 60–90 mm, route directions 30–40 pt, and rules 18–24 pt. Monospaced numerals maintain alignment. Icons: consistent stroke weights and corner radii follow ISO and accessibility standards. Arrows and numbering share a common geometric structure for reliable recognition at every distance. Layout: left alignment, fixed columns and consistent line spacing organize information in the sequence location–destination–route–floor–room number, reducing rereading and hesitation.
Touchpoint Design & Implementation
Exterior approach: illuminated gateway identification and directional flags provide visibility from two directions. Accessible-route and fire evacuation markers are integrated into the paving. Lobby and vertical circulation: the overview map includes daily exhibitions, performances and meetings. Quick-reference directories at the lifts show destination, floor and estimated walking time; stairs and lifts share a coordinated numbering system. Exhibitions and theaters: exhibition entrances organize information into title, dates and visitor route. Theater guidance covers the full sequence from security screening and ticket checks to waiting areas, entrances, seating sections and individual seats, with zone-based queue templates deployed at peak times. Teaching and offices: door signs combine floor code, room number and course or department. Reassurance signs appear every 12–15 m along corridors. Amenities: service desks, restrooms, baby care rooms, drinking water and recycling points use a shared icon system. Accessible routes are confirmed at entrances and key turns. Materials and lighting: matte metal, scratch-resistant acrylic and environmentally friendly screen-printing inks, with 4000–4500 K lighting, controlled glare and reflections, and minimum illuminance maintained at night.
Implementation and operation and maintenance mechanism
An integrated operating framework connects the asset register, template library and live data. Every sign has a unique code and installation and maintenance records. Variable information is generated from templates and exported for print or digital use in a single step; price labels and event cards can be replaced within five minutes. QR codes link to live floor plans, performance and meeting schedules, accessible routes and emergency procedures. The operations manual defines inspection intervals, acceptable tolerances, cleaning and replacement procedures, allowing venue staff to handle routine maintenance independently. Standard grids, shared fittings and consistent coding allow the system to extend quickly to new buildings and uses, sustaining a professional, restrained and efficient wayfinding environment.