Photos courtesy Entro
By Angela Carter
The ways in which passengers use and interact with airports is changing. These large-scale facilities are no longer simply a place to catch a flight; they are increasingly becoming a destination unto themselves, a locale where individuals enjoy spending their time, by offering everything from retail to dining to entertainment in one place.
As airport planning evolves and is no longer solely focused on air travel, there are effects that relate to wayfinding, i.e. how individuals orient themselves in the physical space and navigate from place to place. Sign design needs to acknowledge the shifts affecting today’s airports and the role these facilities will play in the future.
A changing setting
In a broad context, multi-use space is at the forefront of many building developments. For airports in particular, both large and small, there has been a cultural shift to focus on the principles of the hospitality industry, which in turn is influencing their design.
As destinations intended to meet all of a traveller’s needs, after all, airports have added more options for shopping, dining, entertainment, fitness, relaxation and accommodation. And for an airport’s operators, these amenities contribute to greater potential revenue generation.
Another key factor that drives change in airports is a focus on efficiency. With advances in technology, operators seek to hone their methods for improving the overall travel experience.
Technological developments
To some degree, airports have led the way in providing a common experience to users no matter where they are. Airports around the world appear relatively similar—and thus comfortingly familiar—to visitors. Similarly, future applications of wayfinding technology in airports are likely to embrace universality, which could affect the design and role of physical signs.
There will always be individuals, after all, who do not use mobile devices in an airport. Their wayfinding experience must be taken into account. Physical signage is essential for the utility and function of the space, since it applies to all types of users.
Changes in industrial design will also have an effect on signage and displays. These may include new lighting technologies, alternative methods for applying graphics, refinements to materials (such as aluminum and acrylic) and thinner, smaller digital signage displays, among others.
With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), physical wayfinding signs could also be encoded with digital capabilities.
Large-scale digital signage displays are already a common sight in airports, of course, because they can provide real-time information, based on flight data tracking, weather conditions and other contextual content. When they are placed in appropriate locations with maximum visibility, they help offer peace of mind to travellers and reduce their anxiety.
