Nomenclature

 

Nomenclature as it applies to signage and wayfinding systems is a standarized set of words, syntax, grammar, spelling, and symbols used to communicate information in a wayfinding program. Good systems of nomenclature ensure that information is presented in a consistent way and that the content of the wayfinding instructions is always clear. Nomenclature has several essential issues which must be addressed in every design project:

 

1. Consistency: Whether it is the name of a building, the name of a function, or the description of a process, when a word is used anywhere in the system it must mean exactly the same thing. If one of the levels of a parking garage below an office building is called "Level 3" is should not also be called "Floor 3". Although it might seem ridiculous to split such hairs, language is a very refined instrument and the public has learned to discern clues in every part of the wayfinding message.

 

2. Common Usage: Even in our hi-tech world, the terms used in a wayfinding system must be recognizable in common, everyday usage; they must be understandable to people not familiar with the particular technical or organizational functions of the facility. In rare cases, specific technical terms may be used, but care must be exercised to ensure that those terms are in the process of being adopted into everyday usage. An example of such adoption is the old term "X-Ray" in hospitals which was eventually replaced with "Diagnostic Imaging". The change only worked because the entire healthcare industry was in the process of recognizing all the new diagnostic techniques such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and an umbrella term was needed.

 

3. Reasonable Grammar & Spelling: Whatever word or phrase is chosen, it must be recognizable as a logical part of the English language; nouns represent places or functions, verbs represent actions or processes, adjectives qualify nouns, etc. It would not, for example, be acceptable to say "Ground Transporting" in a case where "Ground Transportation" is a more correct grammatical form by which to name a function. Simple, direct, declarative statements are best. Beware of foreign spellings, acronyms and other non-standard abbreviations which may not be understood by many people. Here you must consider the audience: "EGB" will be understood as "Emergency Generator Building" on a naval base, but will draw a blank stare any where else.

 

4. Punctuation: Be careful to use capital letters, hyphens, slashes, dashes, apostrophies, and other forms of punctuation in a logical manner. The Modern Language Association can provide some rules, but generally, signage formats use simplified punctuation, such as "10 pm" instead of "10:00 p.m." or "Gate A5" instead of "Gate A-5". This is an area where linguists and designers often disagree, hence the need for caution.

 

5. Symbols vs Words: Care must be taken not to expect too much from the use of symbols as part of the nomenclature. Although they can play an important role for essential functions such as "Toilets" or "Information" keep in mind that any system using symbols must assess the public equity present in each symbol and expect some populations to not recognize some of the symbols. Symbols work best when supported by clear, understandable words and when symbols are used as a way to speak to ESL populations, it may be time to consider using limited foreign language on some of the signs. Keep in mind that illustrations or photos which describe or allude to text usually have no symbolic or "semiotic" value, thereby giving them a supporting role.

 

6. Foreign Language: If at all possible, use words which translate as literal cognates in more than one language, such as "Toilet" or "Restaurant" which are similar in both English and French. Words which share a common Latin or Greek root in several related languages can often be "decoded" by non-English speaking users without the need for a second language. Avoid the use of slang or temporary hypenations wherever possible. Also keep in mind that many language, such as Spanish, require about 30% more line length than English, thus affecting graphic layouts, sign length, and ultimately sign cost. Non-latin writing systems, such as Japanese, Chinese, and Thai also require an understanding of the "orthography" or physical layout of the language, in order to present both it and English in an understandable manner.

 

7. Color-coding as Language: Color codes are useful supplements to a good linguistic format and, as such, should not be the primary means of distinguishing parts of a facility. For example, levels or areas of a facility can be given a color to support a number or letter; the color will help to fix the code in the users memory, but will not be "required" to understand how the facility is organized. Colors must be chosen for their wide recognition and color-blindness issues must be taken into account. Color as language can be a handsome "supporting player" in any nomenclature system.

 

8. National Standards: Most words used in a wayfinding system should be consistent with other similar facilities in the country, particularly if users might encounter more than one such facility, such as in airports or hospitals. Terms such a "Ticketing" and "Baggage Claim" should be maintained as "national" usage because it improves communications. Regional variations are acceptable, however, to the degree that they fit local usage and expectation. For example, airports in some areas use the term "Rent Car" instead of "Rental Car".

 

9. Industry Vocabulary: Every building type has its own finite set of words and phrases which describe the unique aspects of that business. In an airport the public is called "passenger", in hospitals they are "patients", on a bus system they are "riders", in a retail environment they are "customers", and so on. Similarly, certain functions (and the need to name them) are unique to each industry: airports must describe ground transportation methods, hospitals must describe medical specialities, and libraries must describe hours of operation. Conversely, some functions are universal to all public buildings, such a restrooms, reception areas, information desks, telphones, and cash machines. And just to make it even more complex, some businesses insist on inventing or borrowing terms from other industries, such as a convention center or airport which borrows a retail term such as "Galleria" or "Esplanade" to give it a more international flavor.

 

10. Comprehensive System: A good nomenclature system must address all places and functions to be named. The naming, numbering and general organization of the parts of a building is a critical, organizational aspect of a wayfinding plan. Floor numbering, dedicatory names vs common names, departmental names, stall numbering, and room numbering all must be carefully considered when preparing message lists for use on signs and when publishing brochures. Clear, logical hierarchies must exist to help users remember and use the nomenclature.

 

For more information, please contact me at kbd@olympus.net.