Applied designs pedestrian map system in Vancouver

Applied was commissioned by City of Vancouver to create a series of more than 800 maps spread across the city that would educate both visitors and residents. “The maps are of a high level of detail that provide both tourists and locals with a better understanding of the city,” says George Sidaoui, lead designer on the project’s roll-out phase.

The system consists of static on-street signage, including maps and directional and attraction information. Applied worked with Living Map Company to create a digital database of the city, which it has based their static and digital map systems on. The database is regularly updated with changes to roads and landmarks.

“The street maps show you where you are and tell you about landmarks in the area,” says Sidaoui. “This information reflects the identity of Vancouver.”

The consultancy has incorporated “heads-up” mapping into its work, rather than the more commonly used north-up mapping, which orientates the map to the direction that the viewer is facing. “With other projects, we’ve found that heads-up mapping helps people orientate better,” says Sidaoui. “It also makes every map in the system unique.”

The maps are colour-coordinated with aims of highlighting tourist and retail landmarks and transport links. Green represents parks and green spaces, while red represents landmarks and tourist attractions. Blue highlights retail attractions as well as transportation. “The topography is neutral to highlight the tourist and retail landmarks,” says Sidaoui. “Blue represents the city’s transport system Translink, as it’s their main branded colour.”

The Applied team hopes that the new mapping system will help to change people’s perceptions of Vancouver. “People think of Vancouver as a large city – there’s no sense of scale,” Sidaoui says. “The maps state how long it takes to walk somewhere – once someone sees that it only takes five minutes to walk to a destination, they will start walking more and it will cause a domino effect that will help in the long-term.”

The maps started being rolled out across Vancouver in August 2014, and will continue to be installed for the next three months. Additions to the project include a pocket-sized bicycle route map and guide, walking tour maps and a downtown visitor map. The consultancy plans to produce a map-driven website, commissioned by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, and mobile applications.

The project is part of the city’s aspiration to become the world’s greenest city by 2020. Applied has previously worked with Vancouver’s transport authority Translink in developing a travel-based mapping system.