Overview
ISO 28564-1:2026 provides internationally recognized requirements and design principles for public information guidance systems, focusing specifically on location plans, maps, and diagrams. These visual aids are essential for helping users navigate public spaces and workplaces by offering clear, accessible information on surroundings, facilities, and optimal routes. The standard targets a wide variety of environments, including shopping centres, hospitals, airports, bus and train stations, urban areas, public parks, museums, sports and entertainment venues, and office complexes. By following these guidelines, designers and facility managers can improve wayfinding, accessibility, and user experience in diverse public settings.
Key Topics
- Design Principles: Emphasizes clarity, legibility, consistency, and accessibility to accommodate users of all backgrounds and abilities.
- Standardized Symbols: Recommends the use of ISO 7001 and ISO 7010 graphical symbols, ensuring international comprehensibility and reducing language barriers.
- Preparation & Data Gathering: Covers the definition of project briefs, user requirements, analysis of areas to be mapped, and data collection from stakeholders.
- Information Selection: Guidance on presenting only essential information, optimizing layouts for decision-making, and making provisions for users with different language needs.
- Map Elements: Outlines requirements for titles, main content areas, legends, indexes, and scale indications.
- User Orientation: Provides advice on orienting and positioning location plans to align with the user's perspective and local environment.
- Testing, Construction, and Maintenance: Details the need for usability testing, durable and sustainable materials, regular inspection, easy updating, and compatibility with environmental design.
Applications
ISO 28564-1:2026 is highly beneficial for:
- Facility Managers and Architects: Ensuring that wayfinding maps in buildings and open areas are user-oriented, accessible, and consistent with international best practices.
- Urban Planners: Standardizing navigation in city centres, parks, transport hubs, and tourist attractions for both local residents and international visitors.
- Transport Operators: Improving passenger experience and flow in stations and terminals by providing intuitive, clear, and accessible location plans.
- Healthcare and Educational Institutions: Enhancing visitor orientation and operational efficiency through clear, accessible interior and campus maps.
- Exhibitions, Events, and Attractions: Enabling easy navigation for attendees in complex venues, contributing to satisfaction and safety.
- Sustainability and Accessibility: Supporting inclusive design and sustainability by recommending eco-friendly materials, high contrast, and features for users with impairments.
Related Standards
- ISO 23601: Provides requirements for escape and evacuation plans, complementing the scope of ISO 28564-1.
- ISO 28564-2: Focuses on the design of location signs and direction signs, separate from map and diagram standards.
- ISO 28564-3: Covers information index signs and their visual and spatial relationships.
- ISO 28564-4: Addresses installation and assessment methods for wayfinding systems, ensuring comprehensive guidance in public information delivery.
- ISO 7001 & ISO 7010: Establish standards for public information symbols and safety signage, referenced for symbol usage.
- ISO 9186 Series: Provides methods for testing symbol comprehensibility and quality, ensuring the effectiveness of visual communication.
By adopting ISO 28564-1:2026, organizations ensure their location plans meet internationally recognized standards for wayfinding, public guidance, and accessibility, improving navigation, inclusivity, and overall user satisfaction in public spaces.
Open preview (PDF)Public information guidance systems — Part 1: Design principles and element requirements for location plans, maps and diagrams
