Understanding Spatial Cognition for Designing Pedestrian Wayfinding Systems

Individuals react differently when moving in urban spaces, as their senses are distinctively activated. Their interpretations and how the built environment is perceived result in different meanings. When studying public spaces, it is of utmost importance to understand how residents and visitors construct images of the city, by perceiving and appropriating urban spaces. In particular, this is decisive when designing Pedestrian Wayfinding Systems (PWS) in urban areas. Based on spatial cognition studies, this paper identifies and explores the main aspects influencing the design of wayfinding systems. The study is structured in three main parts. First, the article reviews literature on spatial cognition and human behaviors. Second, it analyzes some reference cases considered good practices for PWS, their implementation in contemporary public spaces, and their visual and aesthetic forms of expression. Third, it develops a practical guide for designing a PWS focused on end-users. More specifically, the research aims to support the municipality of Porto in defining the tender specifications for the development of a PWS, to be included in the future Integrated Signage and Information System. Ultimately, this study proposes recommendations to improve pedestrian navigation in the urban context and help decision-makers, designers, and urban planners potentially create better wayfinding systems in the future.