Integration of environmental and social values in cultural spaces. Sustainable and inclusive wayfinding materials for museums

In the context of use of large museum centers, numerous national and international methodological experiments show that the wayfinding project must consider the needs of both habitual users (user-centered design) and local communities (design for communities) and the importance of environmental protection (eco-design) as a priority interest of the community. This “double target”, “user-centered” and “environment-centered” can be applied during the selection process of materials to be used in the project. With respect to these possibilities, this contribution intends to present the results of research focused on material characterization of the reception and distribution spaces of large museum centers. This characterization is based on use of sensory materials and aims to evaluate their impact on the usability and sustainability of wayfinding systems. The paper directed towards a proposal for organization of integrated information on new generation so-called smart materials; within the design of a wayfinding system, these can balance the aesthetic-perceptual and performance and environmental impact, in order to allow designers to make informed decisions oriented towards inclusion and sustainability. The study was addressed by conducting two phases of systematic literature and library review of materials. The investigations conducted led to achievement of a first research result which consists in the identification of a “standard sheet” for the mapping and cataloging of the materials used for wayfinding. The “standard sheet” allows organizing the information on smart, sensorial, and eco-friendly materials, balancing the aesthetic-perceptive component with the performance on the environmental impact along the entire life cycle in a circular perspective. This tool could guide designers towards an environmental communication project oriented towards sustainability and is effective for usability and wayfinding.