V&A appoints design team to create “holistic” new wayfinding system

The Victoria & Albert Museum has appointed a design team led by CCD to develop a new wayfinding strategy for the museum’s sites at South Kensington and Bethnal Green.

CCD will lead a team comprising designer Nick Bell, The Team and Wood & Wood Signs to work on the project, which will go through an initial research stage before designs are installed by the beginning of 2017.

The team was appointed following a tender process, with the V&A putting forward a brief to develop a “holistic” wayfinding system across all its sites – including its main museum in London’s South Kensington and the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

Following its appointment, the CCD-led team says it will now undertake an “in-depth programme of research to understand how different visitors and staff see, interact with and understand the building and will use those views to develop and shape the final wayfinding strategy and design solution”.

Chris Girling, CCD’s head of wayfinding says, “The V&A is a remarkable building holding a fantastic collection of permanent and temporary exhibits. For people to get the most out of their time visiting we must create a wayfinding solution that embraces their needs, but still work within the museum’s architecture and brand-language.”

He adds: “In a complex environment such as the V&A we can only unlock the ideal design solution once our behavioural research gives us an understanding of the interaction between people, the architecture, collections, lighting, landmarks and signs. “

The design team says the success of the scheme will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively – indicators will include increases in return visits, visitor satisfaction surveys, as well as improved flow through entrance areas and fewer questions to staff about how to particular destinations.

Discover more:

• V&A to develop “holistic” wayfinding across all its sites