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A WAYFINDING SIGNAGE INITIATIVE FOR NEW JERSEY
What is Wayfinding?
When signage works, it helps us move with confidence in unfamiliar locations. Because state, county and local authorities do not coordinate signage in New Jersey, it’s often easy to lose the trail when trying to find a particular point of interest. The exception may be hospitals-the big, blue “H” is universally understood as the Wayfinding symbol for a hospital, and in most cases these signs lead you right to the Emergency Room door.
A successful Wayfinding program has the potential for making all our important points of interest as easy to find as a hospital without creating unnecessary and confusing sign clutter.
Why is Wayfinding important?
A good Wayfinding program not only reduces the frustration of traveling in unfamiliar neighborhoods, it also enhances pride in our sense of place by reminding us of the sites which give character to our surroundings. It makes business sense too. Tourism is a $35 billion industry in New Jersey. Neighboring states have already begun to enhance Wayfinding to support their own tourism. New Jersey needs to keep pace and be competitive.
New Jersey deserves the best
A first-class Wayfinding program creates signage that:
1. Enhances safety and reduces sign proliferation
2. Has symbols that are language independent
3. Reflects the environment the icons must function in
4. Accurately interprets the message
5. Is recognizable from a distance without reading words
6. Encapsulates the power of obvious symbols
7. Creates a unifying element and amplifies a sense of place
8. Uses symbols that are timeless
9. Interfaces easily with GPS in cars and cell phones
Why not just adopt a program from some other state?
New Jersey has some unique challenges. Many of New Jersey’s recreational areas, cultural sites, historic venues, and other attractions (e.g., farmer’s markets, zoos, botanical gardens and parks, marinas, resorts, ski areas, wineries) are not directly accessible from major highways. The current state directional signage program is a template used in 17 other states. Since Colonial times, New Jersey has been the most densely populated and culturally diverse state in the nation with a tradition of Home Rule. A successful Wayfinding program in New Jersey would involve not just sites within a short distance of state highway crossroads, but “tiered” signage that directs a person from federal, state, county or local roads to a destination.
Who are our partners?
So far, NJDOT, the NJ Heritage Tourism Task Force, NJ DEP, New Jersey History Advocates, the state Chamber of Commerce, Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, ArtPride, the Municipal Land Use Center, and the Community Foundation of New Jersey have signed on as partners in this initiative. Invitees will include representatives of many statewide groups including the NJ Office of Travel & Tourism, NJ Historical Commission, the NJ State Council on the Arts, NJ Audubon, the NJ Hotel/Motel Association, the League of Municipalities, the NJ Restaurant Association, the NJ Association of Counties, NJBIA, the NJ Campground Association, NJ History Advocates, NJ Parks & Recreation Association, and NJ Transit.
Icons and Zones– In a state as diverse and interesting as New Jersey, coming up with a memorable pattern of zones and icons for the first time visitor is a substantial challenge. Thanks to the talent and generosity of world renowned Iconographer, Lance Wyman, we’re happy to share these latest Designs. For more information, read Icons and Wayfinding.
