Drawing on thoughtful analogies between the psychologies of how people navigate around hotels and trade shows, Modulex is designing an entirely new concept for Sleep entitled Sleep Walking. Embracing the use of landmarks, icons and other signage, Modulex will be disrupting unconscious behaviours and sparking curiosity to entice and reassure visitors as they wend their way through Sleep’s myriad experiences.
Research tells us that on average 15% of the population experience sleepwalking or parasomnia. That’s a lot of people, but how many more spend some of their waking moments ‘metaphorically’ sleepwalking? Moving through environments whilst drifting from being consciously aware of surroundings to unconsciously passing through spaces, hotels or even trade shows oblivious to what is happening around them.
It is this state of dreaminess which inspired ‘Sleepwalking with Modulex’ with the goal to help Sleep 2016 attendees make the most of their visit through intelligent wayfinding. After all hotels and trade shows have a lot in common – visitors who return year after year, following the same routes and visiting the same areas alongside first timers with no previous knowledge and keen to experience all a hotel or show has to offer, whilst optimising revenue generators.
Good wayfinding is intuitive. Seamlessly integrating with the architecture and interiors. To deliver it means firstly understanding the users of the space – frequent or first time visitors, demographics, their needs and wants, their state of mind and their level of concentration or distraction.
Next comes the physical understanding of the built environment. Primary and secondary routes need to be established, decision making or ‘dither’ points noted as this is where it may be necessary to ‘wake people up’ so as not to miss an important turn or event. Are there any landmarks which can aid wayfinding? Has lighting been considered and reading distance and sightlines calculated?
Only then can you begin to design. Selecting materials, colours, graphics and typefaces which ‘blend’ and where necessary contrast with the environment.
Sleepwalking with Modulex will bring the science of wayfinding into focus, informing and guiding visitors to Sleep 2016 so that you don’t miss anything – whatever your conscious state.
