Wayfinding: Future Thinking

The symposium offers the chance to explore exciing ideas around sustainability, technology, smart cities, AI, and what the wayfinding industry may look like in the future, through six talks: – Wayfinding 2.0 (AI), Peter Reynolds, Wayfinders – People, patterns and pathways: Harnessing behavioural data and personal experiences to define the future of venue navigation, Simon Borg, Populous – Immersive and inclusive wayfinding through multi-sensory design, Ángel Sánchez, Gensler – Placemaking and community building. New identity, meaning and messages for places, Luca Ballarini and Marta Doria, Stratosferica – The rise of personalised wayfinding in the age of agentic AI, Alison Richings, Endpoint – Please do touch – the importance of physical wayfinding in an increasingly digital world, Nadine Smith, Jackson Daly There'll be time to network with fellow delegates at the on-site drinks reception afterwards. The symposium is in-person. Not able to join us on the day? Buy post-event access to the symposium recording instead. The talks: 1. Wayfinding 2.0 (AI) An exploration of: How emerging technologies, especially AI and IoT are going to change the way we plan, develop, and manage wayfinding systems; where to add value in all of this; and what’s already possible / coming next. 2. People, patterns and pathways: Harnessing behavioural data and personal experiences How is venue navigation shaped by these interactions? Though traditional wayfinding, using signs and symbols, seems neutral, it often mirrors the values and biases of its creators, prioritising efficiency over equity. A re-examination of user-centered design is advocated, particularly for large venues such as sports / entertainment hubs. Diverse, community-led voices are integral to the future of wayfinding 3. Immersive and inclusive wayfinding through multi-sensory design In an era where human experience seems to be the central axis of design discourse, the senses offer a tangible framework to interrogate what experience truly entails. While the term multi-sensory has gained traction across disciplines, design remains overwhelmingly vision-dominant. This paradigm is challenged, proposing a redefinition of wayfinding and branding as inherently multi-sensory practices capable of generating richer, more intuitive, and inclusive experiences. A multi-sensory environment does not merely layer stimuli; rather, it orchestrates them into a cohesive and emotionally resonant spatial identity. 4. Placemaking and community building: New identity, meaning and messages for places Talk overview tbc. 5. The rise of personalised wayfinding in the age of agentic AI Explores the evolving future of wayfinding in an era of intelligent tools, digital twins, and personalised navigation. As static signage gives way to agentic AI and wearable technologies, navigation shifts from universal messages to tailored, context-aware experiences. Emerging trends, smart devices suggesting routes, adaptive accessibility tools, and the next leap toward ambient, invisible wayfinding services will be explored. Opportunities, trust, and ethical considerations are addressed, asking what skills and frameworks designers will need. Blending speculative futures with real-world developments, what it means to be found in a world that increasingly finds you first is considered. 6. Please do touch – the importance of physical wayfinding in an increasingly digital world As the digital and physical worlds become more closely intertwined, the accelerating pace of technology often brings into question the requirement of physical wayfinding. The continued importance of built wayfinding objects, and their purpose in a world with an expanding digital integration into daily life is explored. Consider the value of the physical from a psychological perspective, what we do when technology fails, designing for accessibility, and the opportunities digital overlay provides wayfinding practice.