WAYFINDING

ENVIRONMENTS

OVERVIEW

Wayfinding helps people understand their environment and how to get around. Signs are an essential component, but should always be part of a wider system of cues to make navigation intuitive. 

Architectural diagram showing examples of wayfinding systems incorporated into indoor and outdoor spaces.

Wayfinding includes:

  • Brand installations, color, and architectural elements that leave an impression as placemaking landmarks
  • Non-visual cues like tactile surfaces, sounds, etc.
  • Identification signs, directional signs and maps
  • Memorable and systematic names and codes for buildings, rooms, campus entrances, parking zones, and key spaces
  • Digital resources like room reservation systems, maps, internal apps, and public resources like Google maps

Wayfinding Principles

The following drivers are incorporated throughout the Standards.

Intuitive

Wayfinding should be predictable and easy to understand. The goal is a seamless journey that reduces stress and friction. This means creating places with a sense of identity that are easily distinguishable, providing simple routing and reference points, and using placemaking to reduce the need for signage.

Connected to the brand

Wayfinding elements should have a recognizable look that's consistent across Nike sites. Connection to the brand means using names, art, and storytelling that relate to Nike. It means paying attention to design details and combining form with function.

Inclusive

Navigation and the ability to easily move through a site can be especially challenging for people with disabilities. Nike sites are used by local employees, visiting employees, and guests from around the world. An inclusive wayfinding experience allows all people to navigate, discover, perform and learn regardless of their abilities, culture, age, size, background, education, etc.

Accessibility & Inclusion

Wayfinding Resources

Wayfinding resources are organized by project type.

Interior

Applies to leased and owned spaces, where Nike occupies part or all of the building.

Exterior

Building name signs and guidance to entry points. Primarily for campus buildings. Stand-alone sites often want more anonymity or are in a shared building with other tenants.

Image of supply chain sites

Site

Navigating between arrival points, outdoor spaces and buildings. Primarily for campus settings but select components may be useful for stand-alone sites.

Downloads include production templates, specification sheets, fonts, icons, schedule/installation plan template.