Wayfinding is often treated as a final layer - a set of signs applied at the end of a project. But in reality it begins much earlier, shaped by spatial layout, language, lighting, materials, sound, culture and lived experience. What does it really take to make a space legible, intuitive and inclusive design for everyone - including those who navigate it very differently?
In this episode we explore inclusive wayfinding in depth - from pre-visit information and multisensory signage, to the common misconceptions that leave people feeling lost, confused or simply not catered for. We talk about the difference between static and dynamic wayfinding environments, why maps aren’t always the answer, and how neurodiversity, language and culture all shape the way people interpret space.
Our first guest is Holly Roberts, Interpretation Planner at The Creative Core, a visitor experience design studio based in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Holly’s background spans 16th-century history, exhibition design and broader experience design, and she is neurodivergent herself - bringing lived experience directly into her work. Holly shares how The Creative Core applies a Think, Feel, Do framework to wayfinding challenges across museums, heritage sites and cultural venues, including current live projects at Emirates Old Trafford and Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Our second guest is Dániel Hajas, Innovation Manager at the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) at University College London. Dániel lost his sight at 16 and went on to earn a PhD in Informatics from the University of Sussex, co-founding Grapheel, a social enterprise making STEM resources more accessible through tactile graphics. At GDI Hub - the WHO’s first Global Collaborating Centre on Assistive Technology - he drives innovation in the assistive technology and disability innovation field. Dániel brings a deeply personal and practical perspective on what it means to navigate complex environments as a blind person and guide dog owner, and the value of inclusive prototyping and co-design in surfacing the unexpected tensions that no single designer could anticipate alone.
We discuss why the best inclusive wayfinding feels intuitive rather than obvious, and why introducing it too late in a project limits the tools available to designers. Holly and Dániel explore the value of multisensory information delivery - tactile, auditory and visual - and why assuming one format suits all is one of the most common mistakes in the field. Dániel shares how floor texture, ambient audio and consistent spatial geometry can do more for blind and partially sighted visitors than technology alone, while Holly explains how neurodiversity UX considerations - from colour palettes in dementia care spaces to cognitive load in high-footfall environments - must be built in from the very first design conversation.
We also tackle the thorny question of multilingual signage, the gap between static and dynamic wayfinding environments, and why inclusive research with real end users remains the single most important thing any design team can do - not as a tick-box at RIBA Stage 3, but as a living, iterative part of the entire process. A conversation that will resonate with anyone designing spaces that need to work for everyone.
A rich and wide-ranging conversation that proves there is no single manual for totally inclusive wayfinding - and that’s precisely what makes getting it right so important, and so rewarding.
You can read the complete episode transcript and explore additional resources here: https://mimagroup.com/the-redesign-podcast
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Mima is a human-centric, inclusive design consultancy specialising in helping clients improve customer experience across transport and destinations. Led by research, we consult on strategy, improve accessibility and help your customers find their way. https://mimagroup.com/
