Dr Colette Jeffrey
Associate Professor - Wayfinding and Inclusive Design
School of Visual Communication
- Email:
- colette.jeffrey@bcu.ac.uk
Colette is Associate Professor of Wayfinding and Inclusive Design. She has a Doctorate in navigation, wayfinding and architecture and is an expert in why people get lost inside buildings having devised wayfinding strategies for over 30 NHS hospitals, the Natural History Museum in London, Tower Bridge, Wembley Arena, Heathrow Airport and shopping centres in Dublin and Dubai.
At Birmingham City University, Colette teaches Graphic Communication at undergraduate level in BICA, teaches students in Wuhan China studying at BIFCA, and supervises PhD students exploring any aspect of wayfinding and visual communication. Before joining BCU in 2009, Colette worked for over 15 years as a graphic designer, wayfinding consultant, project director and inclusive design director at Brand Union and Applied Wayfinding in London, having trained at the Information Design Unit. Whilst at IDU, she researched and co-wrote the official NHS book on wayfinding for hospitals. Colette continues to have research and design work published in many international journals and books (see Publications link below).
Colette is Board Member and a Trustee of the Royal Institute of Navigation and is a Director and co-Chair of the Sign Design Society, two international professional organisations representing people involved in all aspects of navigation and wayfinding. For both organisations, Colette is a Higher Education lead and is actively involved in supporting students and graduates to get involved in the wayfinding and navigation industries.
Current Activity
- Module Leader, Senior Lecturer, Personal tutor & PhD supervisor
- Undergraduate: BA Graphic Communication module leader, lecturer – School of Visual Communication teaching, coordination and assessment
- International teaching and coordination - BA Graphic Communication, Wuhan, China at BIFCA (2016-2021) and SHAPE, IVE, Hong Kong (2009- 2019)
- Post-Graduate and Doctoral Supervision - supporting researchers exploring wayfinding, indoor and city navigation, information design, inclusive design and human behaviour within architecture.
Doctoral (PhD) thesis
Why People Get Lost In Buildings: The Influence of architecture, information and navigator cognition on indoor wayfinding and waylosing. Research papers to Journal of Navigation, Environment and Behaviour, Information Design Journal and design books are planned.
Post-Doctorate Research
Funding applications and opportunities for:
- Indoor Human Wayfinding and Inclusive Navigation Systems (Royal Institute of Navigation)
- Information and sign design for wayfinding (Sign Design Society – new Sign Design Guide)
- Navigator cognition and indoor wayfinding (Royal Institute of Navigation special interest group, UCL & NHS)
- Inclusive design and wayfinding with visual impairments (BCU and De Montfort University)
Memberships
- HEA Senior fellow
- Royal Institute of Navigation Associate Fellow, Board Member and a Trustee
- Sign Design Society, Director and co-Chair
- External Examiner at University of Reading BA Graphic Communication & Typography (2018-2021)
Research
Doctoral (PhD) Thesis
Why People Get Lost In Buildings: The Influence of architecture, information and navigator cognition on indoor wayfinding and waylosing. Research papers submitted to Journal of Navigation, Environment and Behaviour, Information Design Journal and design books are planned.
Post-Doctorate Research
Funding applications and opportunities for:
- Indoor Human Wayfinding and Inclusive Navigation Systems (Royal Institute of Navigation)
- Information and sign design for wayfinding (Sign Design Society – new Sign Design Guide)
- Navigator cognition and indoor wayfinding (Royal Institute of Navigation special interest group, UCL & NHS)
- Inclusive design and wayfinding with visual impairments (BCU and De Montfort University)
Publications
Doctoral Thesis
Jeffrey, J.C. (2019) Why People Get Lost In Buildings: The Influence of architecture, information and navigator cognition on indoor wayfinding and waylosing. PhD, Birmingham City University
Books
Miller, C. & Lewis, D. (1999) Wayfinding: Guidance for Healthcare Facilities. London, UK: The Stationery Office. This is the official NHS guidance, distributed to all UK hospitals.
Miller, C. (1998) Exploring the 3D Interface: Orientation Diagrams. In P. Wildbur (ed) Information Graphics, Thames and Hudson, London pp.138-139.
Jeffrey, C. (2005) By the Book: Hospitals in the UK. In P. Mollerup (ed) Wayshowing: A Guide to Environmental Signage Principles and Practices. Baden: Lars Müller Publishers pp.231-233.
Jeffrey, C. (2005) Landmark Wayshowing: Tower Bridge. In P. Mollerup (ed) Wayshowing: A Guide to Environmental Signage Principles and Practices. Baden: Lars Müller Publishers pp.284-285.
Jeffrey, C. (2017) Wayfinding Perspectives: Static and digital wayfinding systems, can a Wayfinding Symbiosis be achieved? In: A. Black, P. Luna, O. Lund, & S. Walker, (eds) Information Design: Research and Practice. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
Peer-reviewed papers
Miller, C. and Lewis, D. (2000). Wayfinding in complex healthcare environments. Information Design Journal, 9 (2/3), pp.129-159.
Jeffrey, C. (2011) Hospital Wayfinding: Whose role is it? In Proceedings of Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre, Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Jeffrey, C. (2011) Accessible Mapping: What to leave out. In Proceedings of Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre, Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Professional research and reports
Transport for London (2010). Legible London Inclusivity Report. London. UK: Transport for London. (Researched and written by Jeffrey, C).
Jeffrey, C. (2010). Legible Leeds City Wayfinding System: Inclusivity Report. Leeds, UK: Leeds City Council.
Jeffrey, C. (2012)London 2012: Wayfinding and Signage Accessibility and Inclusivity Review. London, UK: London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Jeffrey, C. (2013) New Hospital Building: Stakeholder Consultation & Wayfinding Strategy. Kolding, Denmark: Kolding Hospital.
Jeffrey, C. (2015) Wayfinding and Signage Review and Strategy. Cork, Republic of Ireland: Cork University Hospital.
Wayfinding design reports
Whilst at Information Design Unit, Brand Union and Applied Wayfinding, Colette researched, managed and wrote wayfinding audits, strategies and sign design reports for:
- 20+ NHS Hospitals: in London St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London, London Chest Hospital, Hammersmith Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, Ravenscourt Park Hospital, Guys’ Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, Whittington Hospital, Central Middlesex Hospital, West Middlesex Hospital, Barnet Hospital. Outside London: Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire , Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Nottingham City Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, North Staffordshire Hospitals , Airedale Hospital, West Yorkshire, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, Cork University Hospital, Republic of Ireland, Kolding Hospital, Denmark.
- 15+ Landmark buildings: Tower Bridge, London, The British Library, London , The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, Wembley Arena, London, Natural History Museum, London, The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery, Coventry, Al Ghurair shopping mall, Dubai, Heathrow T5 (new room numbering strategy), Heathrow T3 (new landside wayfinding strategy), Madrid T4 (audit only), London Transport Users Committee (LTUC) outer London platforms signage and Centro’s transport system, Birmingham
- City wayfinding – design management of projects for Leeds, Walk Brighton and Legible London
- London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics (LOCOG) - Colette researched and wrote the inclusive wayfinding strategy for event signage
Wayfinding design
Miller, C. (1997) Orientation around The British Library. Design Week, 14 February, pp.5.
Miller, C. (1999) Simple routes in complex sites. European Sign Magazine, 6, Germany, pp.28.
Miller, C. (2000) Losing your patients. Design Insight, 6. London, UK: Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) & Joint Mobility Unit, pp.10-11.
Miller, C. (2002) Do people get lost at your site? Does it matter? Museums & Heritage, 3. London, UK: Macmillan-Scott Publication, pp.12-13.
Miller, C. (2003) New hospital building: Think way finding. Hospital Bulletin. Jan/Feb, London: David Publishing Ltd pp.25.
Jeffrey, C. (2006) Wayfinding: it’s more than just signs. Ulster Architect: The Journal of Architecture & Building, 22(7). Northern Ireland: Jemma Publications, pp.49-51.
Jeffrey, C. (2007) Clear a path through the clutter. Brand Strategy, 212, May, London, pp.34-35.
Jeffrey, C. and Wilsher, W. (2007) Designing for information. Computer Arts, 100, August, London: Future Publishing, pp.92-95.
Peer-reviewed conference presentations
Miller, C. (1999) Wayfinding in complex environments. InfoDesign 99 conference, Information Design Network, Cambridge, UK 12-13 July.
Jeffrey, C. (2003) Wayfinding and Information. Designs and Destinations: Integrated Information for Urban Transport Vision Plus 9 conference. International Institute of Information Design (IIID) London. 2-4 July 2003.
Jeffrey, C. (2007) Measuring the effectiveness of wayfinding systems. Vision Plus 12 conference, International Institute of Information Design (IIID) Austria: Schwarzenberg, 5-7 July 2007.
Jeffrey, C. (2009) Inclusive design is clever design. InfoDesign 09 conference, Information Design Association, London: Greenwich 3-4 July 2009.
Jeffrey, C. (2010) Losing your patients. Can hospital signs ever work? ResCon 2010, Birmingham City University, 21 June.
Jeffrey, C. (2011) Hospital Wayfinding: Whose role is it? Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre,
Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Jeffrey, C. (2011) Accessible Mapping: What to leave out. Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre,
Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Jeffrey, C (2013) Are you lost? Wayfinding workshop. Well-Being 2013 conference, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK, 24 July 2013.
Jeffrey, C (2013) Are you Lost? Animal and Human Wayfinding Behaviour. ResCon 2013 conference, Birmingham, UK, 17 December 2013.
Jeffrey, C (2015) Lost or Wayfinding? The interplay of information and people inside buildings. International Institute for Information Design (IIID) Vision Plus 2015, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK. 3 Sept 2015.
Jeffrey, C (2016) Get lost students!. Graphic Design Educators Network conference, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales. 8 Sept.
Peer-reviewed conference poster
Jeffrey, C and Willis, J. (2017) The Use of Art to Support Wayfinding Across Complex Health Buildings. European Healthcare Design conference, Royal College of Physicians 13-14 June 2017 http://www.salus.global/article-show/the-use-of-art-to-support-wayfinding-across-complex-health-buildings
Invited presentations and seminars
Jeffrey, C. (2011) Get Lost! Identity and Wayfinding in schools One-day Seminar. Architecture Centre NetworkMADE, Birmingham, 1 Feb 2011.
Jeffrey, C. (2013) The Birds and the Bees: What humans can learn from animal wayfinding behaviour. Sign Design Society,
Alan Baxter Gallery, London, UK, 4 July 2013
Jeffrey, C (2015) Smart City Wayfinding. India Under Construction: Smart Society For Young India, FICCA, New Delhi, India. 28 Nov 2015.
Jeffrey, C (2016) Navigating Documents. Galliford Try Bid Design Network seminar, Library of Birmingham, 17 Nov 2016.
Jeffrey, C. (2016) Smart City Wayfinding in India: A Wayfinder’s Weekend in New Delhi, Sign Design Society invited speaker, The Gallery, London, UK, 9 June 2016
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017b) Human Navigation, Cognition and Information Design: Why people get lost in cities and buildings. International Navigation Conference 2017, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, 27-30 November.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017c) Two Birds and One Stone: Integrating undergraduate experiential learning with practice-led postgraduate research data gathering Festival of Teaching, Birmingham City University, July 2017.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017d) Human Navigation, Cognition and Information Design: Why people get lost in cities and buildings. International Navigation Conference 2017, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, 27-30 November.
Jeffrey J. C. (2018) People-centred thinking and design: How to design navigation information for people with disabilities. Cambridge Wireless: Location Technology for Assisting Disabled People seminar, Digital Greenwich, London, 3 May 2018
Publications in alphabetical, chronological order
NOTE: Jeffrey née Miller
Miller, C. (1997) Orientation around The British Library. Design Week, 14 Feb, v5.
Miller, C. (1998) Exploring the 3D Interface: Orientation Diagrams. in: Information Graphics, Wildbur, P (ed). Thames and Hudson, London 138-139.
Miller, C. (1999a) Simple routes in complex sites. European Sign Magazine, 6, (Germany) 28.
Miller, C. (1999b) Wayfinding in complex environments. InfoDesign 99 conference, Information Design Network, Cambridge, UK 12-13 July.
Miller, C. (2000) Losing your patients. Design Insight, 6. London, UK: RNIB and Joint Mobility Unit, 10-11.
Miller, C. (2002) Do people get lost at your site? Does it matter? Museums and Heritage, 3. London, UK: Macmillan-Scott Publication, 12-13.
Miller, C. (2003) New hospital building: Think way finding. Hospital Bulletin. Jan/Feb, London: David Publishing Ltd pp.25.
Miller, C. and Lewis, D. (1998) NHS Estates Wayfinding Research Project: Key findings and guidelines. Newport Pagnell, UK: Information Design Unit. Not published publicly.
Miller, C. and Lewis, D. (1999) Wayfinding: Guidance for Healthcare Facilities. London, UK: Stationery Office Books.
Miller, C. and Lewis, D. (2000) Wayfinding in complex healthcare environments. Information Design Journal, 9 (2/3), 129-159.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2003) Wayfinding and Information. Designs and Destinations: Integrated Information for Urban Transport Vision Plus 9 conference. International Institute of Information Design (IIID) London. 2-4 July 2003.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2005a) By the Book: Hospitals in the UK. in: Wayshowing: A Guide to Environmental Signage Principles and Practices, Mollerup, P. (ed). Baden: Lars Müller Publishers, 231-233.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2005b) Landmark Wayshowing: Tower Bridge in: Wayshowing: A Guide to Environmental Signage Principles and Practices, Mollerup, P. (ed). Baden: Lars Müller Publishers, 284-285.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2006) Wayfinding: it’s more than just signs. Ulster Architect: The Journal of Architecture and Building, Vol.22, No.7. N. Ireland: Jemma Publications, 49-51.
Jeffrey, C. and Wilsher, W. (2007). Designing for information. Computer Arts, 100, August, London: Future Publishing, 92-95.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2007) Measuring the effectiveness of wayfinding systems. Vision Plus 12 conference, International Institute of Information Design (IIID) Austria: Schwarzenberg, 5-7 July 2007.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2009) Inclusive design is clever design. InfoDesign 09 conference, Information Design Association, London: Greenwich 3-4 July 2009.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2010) Losing your patients. Can hospital signs ever work? ResCon 2010, Birmingham City University, 21 June.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2011a). Hospital Wayfinding: Whose role is it? in: Proceedings of Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre, Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2011b). Accessible Mapping: What to leave out. in: Proceedings of Include 2011 conference, Helen Hamlyn Centre, Royal College of Art, London, UK. 18-20 April 2011.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2011c) Get Lost! Identity and Wayfinding in schools One-day Seminar. Architecture Centre Network, MADE, Birmingham, 1 Feb 2011.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2012). Wayfinding and Signage Accessibility and Inclusivity Review, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Not published publicly.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2013a) Are you lost? Wayfinding workshop. Well-Being 2013 conference, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK, 24 July 2013.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2013b) Are you Lost? Animal and Human Wayfinding Behaviour. ResCon 2013 conference, Birmingham, UK, 17 December 2013.
Jeffrey, J. C.. (2013c) The Birds and the Bees: What humans can learn from animal wayfinding behaviour. Sign Design Society, The Gallery (Alan Baxter), London, UK, 4 July 2013
Jeffrey, J. C. (2015a) Lost or Wayfinding? The interplay of information and people inside buildings. International Institute for Information Design (IIID) Vision Plus 2015, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK. 3 Sept 2015.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2015b) Smart City Wayfinding. India Under Construction conference: Smart Society for Young India, FICCA, New Delhi, India. 28 Nov 2015.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2016a) Interactive teaching: information design and graphic communication. Graphic Design Educators Network: Exploring Territories conference, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales. 8 Sept 2016.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2016b) Navigating Documents. Galliford Try Bid Design Network seminar, Library of Birmingham, Nov 2016.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2016d) Smart City Wayfinding in India: A Wayfinder’s Weekend in New Delhi, Sign Design Society, The Gallery (Alan Baxter), London, UK, 9 June 2016
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017a) Wayfinding Perspectives: Static and digital wayfinding systems – can a wayfinding symbiosis be achieved? in: Information Design: research and practice. Black, A., Luna, P., Lund, O. and Walker, S (eds.) Abingdon, UK: Routledge. 509-526
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017b) Human Navigation, Cognition and Information Design: Why people get lost in cities and buildings. International Navigation Conference 2017, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, 27-30 November.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017c) Two Birds and One Stone: Integrating undergraduate experiential learning with practice-led postgraduate research data gathering Festival of Teaching, Birmingham City University, July 2017.
Jeffrey, J. C. (2017d) Human Navigation, Cognition and Information Design: Why people get lost in cities and buildings. International Navigation Conference 2017, Metropole Hotel, Brighton, 27-30 November.
Jeffrey J. C. (2018) People-centred thinking and design: How to design navigation information for people with disabilities. Cambridge Wireless: Location Technology for Assisting Disabled People seminar, Digital Greenwich, London, 3 May 2018