ABSTRACT
The study of wayfinding integrates cognitive science with design and planning. Figures are the focus of the authors attention; the background is everything else, and it appears to lie behind the figure. Early research indicated that the authors need a continuous background surface in order to understand space and distance. This concept is confirmed by classrooms, where children are able to focus their attention more easily in a calm, understated background with a few landmarks or focal points. Gateways and entrances serve as landmarks and signal a transition from one identifiable area to another, and often provide a view into the next area. An oblique or bird's-eye view makes landmarks easier to understand. On an effective map, representing the visually strongest aspects of a place provides an overview, showing the main features and the path structure that connects them. Most maps are shown in plan view, that is, as if seen from an airplane looking straight down.
