Client
Transport for London

Westminster City Council

New West End Company
GLA

Design Consultancies
Applied Information Group
Tim Fendley
020 7017 8488
tim@aiglondon.com
www.aiglondon.com

Lacock Gullam

The challenge

In 2004, a study by Applied Information Group (AIG) identified a widespread lack of understanding about how to navigate the city of London on foot. Legible London was proposed as a concept in response to these problems.

Legible London is a wayfinding system that aims to make London a world-class walking city. The idea is that if people are given accurate and relevant information, with choices made more legible, walking can be promoted as a viable alternative for many journeys. This would ease congestion and have a major positive impact on the local economy, environment and public health.

In 2007, AIG were commissioned to create and install a Legible London prototype in the West End, with maps at arrival points, on the street and in people's hands in print form. Within six months, the project had to measurably improve public understanding of the area through the provision of ‘walking information'. It also had to provide proof-of-concept to support the business case for establishing Legible London as a flagship project, and have the potential to be systemised for use across the capital by different stakeholders.

©2007 Phillip Vile/Applied Information Group  

	Legible London West End Prototype

	Thirsty Planet
	BAA Passenger Communications

The solution

In their design solution, AIG focused on providing a new standard of walking map based on cognitive understanding and mental mapping. They also set out to supply the depth and quality of information needed to navigate the area on foot. This information was applied to sign units throughout the prototype area and enhanced by several navigational innovations, including the development of ‘villages' as urban stepping stones and the application of a coherent mapping system throughout underground stations and on bus furniture.

For the scheme to succeed, it had to enable end-users to find their way across jurisdictional boundaries and transport modes which have traditionally formed barriers to pedestrians. During a four month development period, the design team carried out weekly on-street usability research to interrogate, test and modify the design solution to ensure it was aligned with actual need.

The results

Research undertaken before and after the prototype installation – the most far reaching undertaken for a wayfinding system – showed that the legibility of the Bond Street area had significantly increased. Of those pedestrians surveyed, 85% said they found it easy to use the new system, 62% said it would encourage them to walk more, and 91% said it should be rolled out across the capital.

Gold

Design for Society

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