Worcester, MA Tourism Wayfinding Initiative
- Folding Maps
- City Wayfinding
A $3 million Worcester, Massachusetts Wayfinding Initiative to direct tourism with 275 new signs and tourist kiosks demonstrates how cities, colleges, and events embrace Wayfinding's importance.
Wayfinding
Wayfinding, as a concept, has been around since the beginning of time. Animals created trails to find their way to water and food. In modern times, Wayfinding refers to the formal concept of building "sensory clues" into buildings, cities, and campuses.
It includes signage and maps to make it easier for people to get from point A to B.
Worcester Project
In the case of Worcester, the second-largest city in New England and known as the "heart of the commonwealth," city planners determined that a new and formal wayfinding system was "essential for growth, particularly in the area of cultural tourism and economic development."
They will install nearly 300 signs and kiosks to direct visitors around this historically rich city. Worcester was home to several large manufacturing companies in the 19th century and was a biotechnology and healthcare center in the 20th century.
The city hosts nearly 3 million visitors each year and offers multiple cultural attractions, including The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts and Worcester Union Station.
Other City Wayfinding Projects
Other cities creating formal wayfinding systems include Austin, TX. Where the designs are intended to make it "easier for residents, commuters and tourists to find Downtown Austin destinations and attractions," Alexandria, Va. with an "implementation of a comprehensive citywide signage system," and New York City that launched a "WalkNYC program in the summer of 2013."
Nearly every major city in the world embraces the concept of a formal wayfinding system to make it easier for citizens and visitors to navigate their way to tourist attractions, transportation, public buildings, shopping, and more.
Please contact us to learn how we can enhance your campus, event, or city wayfinding initiative. We are Pocket Maps, and we get you there in a straight line!