we rose to the challenge.

When the Design Business Association and the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre issued this year’s Design Challenge – Thanks for the Memory – we saw it as an opportunity to use our wayfinding and design skills to improve navigation for dementia sufferers.

Starting with our wayfinding system for Romford (which had already been applauded by access consultants JBC-London for its inclusivity), we took the design one step further to address the specific challenges presented by dementia.

We chose colours that were more likely to stay in the memory whilst retaining clear visual contrast. We added more visual landmarks, to break the journey down into smaller steps. We introduced landmarks that were easier for a dementia sufferer to recognise – buildings with an interesting architectural detail or natural objects like a dominant tree. When we depicted these landmarks on our maps we included specifics like a flag or recognisable logo. In tandem with improvements to the permanent wayfinding structures, we also created dementia-specific ‘landmark cards’ that could act as stepping stones in any given journey. Sets could be compiled for any number of common journeys by assembling specific landmark cards in the right order – task-focused rather than destination-driven.

We are delighted to have made it into the final shortlist of only six consultancies for this year’s award. Most importantly, we have added extra dimension to our inclusivity through a specific focus on the psychology of colour and dementia.