Treffer: Designing signage to aid wayfinding : case IKEA

The goal of this thesis was to gather information on wayfinding and environmental graphic design and then to use that knowledge as a base for designing outdoor signage for IKEA Oy. The theoretical section of the thesis explores and defines aspects of wayfinding and environmental graphic design and describes the methods for designing an effective signage program. The practical section later showcases the design process for IKEA outdoor signage and discusses the elements that will need to be considered when taking up a project of similar nature. The result of the thesis is a finalised outdoor guidance plan for IKEA Raisio, which will be implemented on the parking area of the store by 2025. Designing effective wayfinding signage requires expertise in graphic design, and a deep understanding of the intuitive psychological behaviour of navigating in a built environment. This thesis can later help other designers to prepare for projects of similar nature and prevent some pitfalls that they might come across during the design process.