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Background

 

Carpman Grant Associates has pioneered wayfinding analysis, planning, and design in complex and confusing facilities. Established in 1986, the firm is nationally recognized for its comprehensive, integrated, and pragmatic approach to this challenging facility management issue.

Partners Janet R. Carpman, Ph.D. and Myron A. Grant, M.L.A. have worked together since 1980 to solve wayfinding problems in disorienting places. They have worked on hundreds of wayfinding projects for more than 70 organizations responsible for healthcare, educational, cultural, and other types of facilities.

CGA’s typical wayfinding projects include:

  • Conducting brief, onsite wayfinding analyses
  • Analyzing exterior and interior wayfinding design features
  • Conducting interviews and focus groups to understand users’ wayfinding experiences and needs
  • Analyzing wayfinding information on maps, brochures,
    websites, etc.
  • Developing Wayfinding Masterplans
  • Planning sign locations and messages
  • Planning room numbering
  • Designing signs, maps, and other wayfinding elements
  • Planning wayfinding operational programs
  • Conducting wayfinding-related design reviews

CGA is known for involving users in wayfinding analysis and planning and is proud to have worked with ~8,000 to date.

Dr. Carpman and Mr. Grant are passionate advocates of wayfinding ease for users, especially those who are unfamiliar with the site or facilities, and those for whom wayfinding is particularly difficult: people with disabilities, elderly people, people for whom English is not a first language, people who cannot read, people who are directionally challenged, and others.

CGA often joins forces with Dick Nicolson, Nicolson Associates, an environmental graphic designer with 30+ years' experience.
Mr. Nicolson designs signs and has specialized knowledge about their fabrication and installation. The two firms have worked together on numerous projects over the past 15 years.

Carpman and Grant are authors of the award-winning book, Design that Cares: Planning Health Facilities for Patients and Visitors, containing two chapters on wayfinding. Their new book, Directional Sense: How to Find Your Way Around, is published by the Institute for Human Centered Design. It is a guide for directionally challenged people and others who want to learn wayfinding skills.

 
Material on this site is copyrighted. ©2011 Carpman Grant Associates