The document outlines the objectives and process for the first research phase of an environmental design course focusing on wayfinding, with students divided into groups researching architecture/urbanism, graphic design, and interactive design topics to gather knowledge and develop preliminary conclusions and hypotheses, with the deliverables being a set of diagrams/maps/illustrations and a presentation identifying their findings.

1. Research Phase 1 Course Environmental Design ARTG 4553
Time Tuesday + Friday 9:50–11:30
Knowledge-Gathering Place 305 Ryder
Instructor Ryan Sullivan ryan@pasteinplace.com
Office Hours By appointment
Flickr Group Wayfinding ARTG 4553
Objective The purpose of the first research phase is to quickly gather basic knowledge concerning
wayfinding-related issues at Northeastern and to develop preliminary conclusions and
hypotheses based on the research. The conclusions and hypotheses will be used to
initiate the second, human-centered research phase.
Process For this research phase, we will work in groups according to our disciplines, focusing on
content pertaining to architecture/urbanism, graphic design and interactive design. Each
group will create a comprehensive series of diagrams/maps/illustrations that document a
series of wayfinding-related themes:
Architecture/Urbanism Group
Location/context Edges and gateways Nodes and centers
Districts Pedestrian routes & intensity Vehicular routes & intensity
Landmarks Transit Access Morphological evolution
Natural/ecological systems Program types and locations Shadow and wind impacts
Underground network Expansion plans Architectural styles
Land values and FAR Life between buildings Nolli (public space)
Scale comparisons Zoning Campus lore/traditions
Graphic Design Group
Wayfinding signs Campus maps Building maps
Environmental graphics Building and room signs Typography
NU brand standards Colors Logos/seals/pictograms
Informal signs Fine art at NU History of brand-identity
Ephemera Accessibility standards Wayfinding precedents
Graphic design adjacent to campus
Interactive Design Group
NU web wayfinding resources Other online wayfinding GPS usage at NU
NU interactive kiosks Mobile computing at NU Ubiquitous computing precedents
NU data audit (availability?) Interactive wayfinding precedents
After the research and documentation process, each group will organize their drawings
into a presentation. It is critical that the presentation articulates a larger narrative
and identifies conclusions and hypotheses.

2. Schedule Duration: 1.5 weeks
Start date: January 15
Completion date and presentation: January 26
Deliverables The drawings should be prepared in Illustrator and/or Photoshop. Files will be organized
according to graphic standards that we will establish collectively.
The presentation should be formatted in InDesign and designed for both print and
projection.
Additionally, each group will create a bibliography of “essential readings” for their topic
and identify one book or article for their classmates to read.