INTERCULTURAL DESIGN TASK 2 - FIELD STUDY

3.02.2026 - 20.03.2026（Week 1 - Week 7）

ZHANG QIYU / 0384019

Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Observation

2. Visual Findings

3. Interview

4. Problems Summary

5. Design Sketch

6. Feedback

7. Reflection

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INSTRUCTIONS

1.OBSERVATION

1.1 Objectives

The photographic field study aims to document the existing urban wayfinding system in Kuala Lumpur city centre. By capturing real spatial conditions, visual hierarchy, multilingual presentation, and environmental context, the research moves beyond theoretical assumptions and grounds the project in observable urban reality. The findings will serve as visual evidence to inform the development of a clearer and more intuitive metro directional signage system.

·To document the actual condition of existing wayfinding systems outside subway stations in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

·To analyze the information structure of wayfinding signs in terms of direction guidance, distance indication, and route identification.

·To study the differences in wayfinding in different areas (commercial areas, transfer stations, and tourist areas).

1.2 Actual shootings

Shooting Area 1: Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) - a high-traffic commercial core area

As the most central location in Kuala Lumpur and the LRT station adjacent to the Petronas Twin Towers landmark, KLCC station doesn't have a high passenger volume; it mainly serves tourists visiting the area.                  

1.The exit point

At the exit near the Twin Towers entrance, a large signpost indicates the underground station entrance and displays the line information.

There is a bus stop approximately 100 metres away, with a detailed route map and bus route numbers displayed at the front of the stop. However, there are no signs indicating the route between the underground station exit and the bus stop.

At one of the exits of KLCC station, situated within the shopping mall, we discovered something upon stepping outside.There was a series of continuous signs indicating the direction to the subway station entrance ahead, but it stopped in the middle (see p2), which was slightly confusing.

Shooting Area 2: Masjid Jamek Station - Transfer Complex Node

As a major transfer station with high passenger volume, Masjid Jamek station had a moderate number of passengers on the day we visited, mainly consisting of local residents and commuters.

The area outside the station is roughly like this. After exiting the turnstiles, there is a clear transfer sign indicating that you can transfer to Lines 3 and 4, and how to get there.

One point worth noting is that there is no elevated walkway connecting the transfer routes at this station; you have to exit the station, cross the road, and then re-enter the station. This actually poses a hidden safety risk.

However, there are signs outside the station, which is good.

This is a subway route map outside the station. You can see the lines that connect to this station, and they are distinguished by color.

There is a lack of signage around the subway station, especially in the area one street behind it (p2), making it difficult for pedestrians passing by from the back street to quickly find the subway station.

Shooting Area 3: Bukit Bintang - Touristy Area

Bukit Bintang station is extremely crowded, with bustling tourists both inside and outside the station. Tourists make up about 90% of the passengers here.The traffic outside the station is also quite complicated, consisting entirely of intersections and one-way streets.

These two signs were the most well-organized directional signs we found outside the station during this survey. The one on the left clearly shows the subway lines, directions to nearby shopping malls, and a simple map; the one on the right, located at an intersection, clearly indicates directions in each direction and important subway exits.

Exits P3 and P4 are near Pavilion Square. There's a simple sign and an indicator on the accessible elevator, but they only have a single image and don't specify which line it is.

2. VISUAL FINDINGS (in pateling jaya)

2.1 Objectives

We chose a detailed route from the subway station to the PJ611 bus station in Pateling Jaya (PJ) and took the actual shooting.This road is the must-pass route for taking the bus from Sunway district to the city center, which has special value and is worth studying.

2.2 Route - Detail

1.Subway Exit 

Insight：The subway exit sign does not indicate the direction of the bus station.

Problem：Passengers may not sure about the location and direction of the bus stop.

2. School corner

Insight：No clear signs or directions along this path. 

Problem：This may leave passengers unsure if they are walking in the right direction

3. Street corner

Insight：Continuing along the path, there is a serious problem at this fork in the road. The blue signage straight ahead (p1) is not the direction of the bus stop—the bus stop is actually down the fork to the right (p2/p3)

Problem：Passengers might continue straight and get lost.

4. Pedestrian overpass

Insight：At this point, passengers need to first cross a diagonal zebra crossing (p1), then walk straight and cross another zebra crossing (p2). There is heavy traffic in this area, making it quite dangerous.

Problem：  Passengers may feel uncertain and likely to miss the crossings.

5. Downward Stairs

Insight：Next, at this intersection, passengers need to turn left and go down a flight of stairs (marked in red in p1 and p2). However, there is no signage at the stairs. After descending, they must turn right and walk about 50 meters to reach the bus stop（p3) 

Problem： Passenger Likely to miss the turn. 

Problem Locations

3. INTERVIEW

3.1 Interview Purpose

The purpose of this interview is to understand users’ real experiences when transferring from the subway station to the PJ611 bus stop in Petaling Jaya. Through interviews with four participants, the study explores their navigation behavior, moments of confusion, and emotional responses while locating the bus stop after exiting the subway.

Compared to simple visual observation, interviews insights collected from face-to-face conversations provide firsthand user experience data that supports a user-centred understanding of the current wayfinding environment.

• Understand the real experiences of pedestrians transferring from the subway station to the PJ611 bus stop

 • Identify potential problems in the existing wayfinding system, including direction guidance, distance information, language, and visibility

3.2 Questions

1.Do you have experience of transfering from subway to bus station？

2.Have you met any difficulties when you made your first transfer?

3.Do you think the road from the Setia-Jaya BRT station to the bus stop is easy to go? If there's questions, which part confuses you the most?

4.If possible that we add some guide signs along this road, telling people how far is it from the station, and what are the bus routes to the station,would you think it make things more convenient for you?

Link ：https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Uq7wV2yfi3FaUIsk31AK8f4ajy38P5ZC/view?usp=drive_link

3.3 Interview Content Analysis and Research Findings

Four participants were interviewed about their experience transferring from the subway station to the PJ611 bus stop. The results show that three out of four interviewees had experienced difficulty locating the bus stop, indicating that navigation challenges exist along this transfer route. Only one participant reported that they had not experienced problems finding the bus stop.

However, an important common finding emerged: all four participants mentioned getting confused at a turning point along the route. This suggests that certain locations along the path lack clear directional cues, which can interrupt pedestrian navigation and cause uncertainty when making route decisions.

In addition, one participant suggested that a small map showing the route between the subway station and the bus stop would be helpful, as it could provide clearer spatial understanding. The three participants who had previously experienced difficulty all expressed support for adding directional signage along the route. Even the participant who had not experienced getting lost agreed that additional signage would make the journey more convenient and easier to follow.

Overall, the interview findings indicate that although some users are eventually able to reach the bus stop, the current wayfinding environment lacks sufficient guidance at key decision points, particularly at turns. These results highlight the potential value of improving external wayfinding elements—such as directional signs or simple route maps—to support smoother transfers between the subway station and the PJ611 bus stop.

4.PROBLEM SUMMARY

From visual observation： 1.Lack of direction 2.No transfer informations

From Interview： 1.It's easy to get lost on the way 2.Malay speakers' problem 3.Unsure how much longer it would take to arrive

4.1 Summarize - Problems & Solutions 

I. Confusion at turning points along the route

Pedestrians often become uncertain when reaching forks or turning points, as there is no clear indication of the correct direction toward the bus stop.

Solution：Install clear directional signage with large arrows indicating the correct path toward PJ611 bus stop, helping pedestrians quickly confirm the correct direction.

II. Lack of spatial understanding of the route

Many users cannot clearly understand the overall route between the station and the bus stop, especially first-time visitors or tourists.

Solution：Add a simplified route map with a “You Are Here” indicator on the signage so pedestrians can quickly understand their current location and the remaining path to the bus stop.

III. Unclear information about bus routes

Passengers are often unsure whether the bus stop serves the bus routes they need, which creates hesitation during the transfer process.

Solution：Display bus route numbers (750, 751, 772) on the sign so pedestrians can confirm that they are heading to the correct bus stop.

IV. Uncertainty about walking distance to the bus stop

Without distance information, pedestrians may feel unsure about how far they still need to walk, which can create anxiety and reduce navigation confidence.

Solution：Include distance indicators such as “200m to PJ611 Bus Stop” to give users a clearer sense of the remaining walking distance.

V. Language barrier for local users

During the interviews, we found that several participants mainly use Bahasa Malaysia in daily life and are not fully comfortable with English. This can make it harder for them to understand English-only signage.

Solution：Introduce a bilingual signage system using both English and Bahasa Malaysia so that the information is accessible to a wider range of users, especially local commuters.

5.DESIGN SKETCH

5.1 Initial sketch

Rational：This solution addresses the confusion passengers often encounter when transferring between Setia Jaya BRT station and PJ6 bus station, allowing them to easily reach the destination without needing to open a mobile map, and also making transfer information clear to first-time transfer passengers.

Site：Setia Jaya BRT station and the PJ611 bus stop in Petaling Jaya

Problem statement：The transfer signs are extremely unclear, the transfer routes are difficult to navigate, and pedestrians are easily confused.

Users：Workers,、first-time tourists

5.2 Design iteration

5.3 Design Description

【Reference】

Design Point 1

Directional arrow

Function：Point out the direction of the bus stop to pedestrians

Before improvement：Pedestrians can't find direction on the way or at corners

After improvement：Pedestrians can simply follow the arrow direction without needing to open a map.

Design Point 2

Bilingual system

Function：Offered in both English and Malay

Before improvement：Many locals who only speak Malay cannot understand it.

After improvement：Improved the experience for both English and Malay speakers.

Design Point 3

Route numbers

Function：Provides the exact bus routes that stop at this station, marked with their respective route colors.

Before improvement：Passengers are often unsure whether the bus stop serves the bus routes they need.

After improvement：Passengers can confirm that they are heading to the correct bus stop and take the line they want to take.

Design Point 4

Distance indicator

Function：Provide the remaining distance from your current location to the station.

Before improvement：Without distance information, pedestrians feel unsure about how far they still need to walk.

After improvement：Give users a clear sense of the remaining walking distance,so that they won't get confused along the way.

Design Point 5

Simplified route map

Function：Provides a panoramic view of the entire route and your current location, with a QR code connected to digital map.

Before improvement：Many users cannot clearly understand the overall route between the station and the bus stop, especially first-time visitors or tourists.

After improvement：Passengers can clearly see their current location and the route they need to take. If they are still unsure, they can scan a QR code to view an electronic map for navigation.

Design Point 6

Malaysian Cultural Element

Function：The floral element incorporated is inspired by the Hibiscus (Bunga Raya), the national flower of Malaysia.

Before improvement：A simple sign, no regional characteristics.

After improvement：By integrating this floral motif into the wayfinding signage, the design introduces a subtle local cultural identity.Instead of using purely generic signage, the inclusion of the hibiscus helps the system feel more connected to the Malaysian cultural experience.

5.FEEDBACK

Regarding the Task 2 feedback, your group's current strengths are that the topic is realistic, closely related to urban mobility, and based on on-site observation, rather than mere speculation; the direction also has social value, especially the point about wayfinding/transfer confusion, which is valid. However, areas needing improvement include: * The problem definition is not narrowed enough. * The boundaries between stations and routes need to be clearer. * The users need to be clearly identified (e.g., new passengers, students, seniors, tourists, first-time transfer passengers). * The connection between the final design and research evidence needs to be more direct. * The sketch/proposal should show why each design element exists (provide explanations for the added messages or functions), not just "make a sign."

6.REFLECTION

This field study has deepened our understanding that wayfinding systems are not just tools for information delivery—they are key to shaping the travel experience of citizens and tourists alike. Through observation, interviews, and sketching, we realized that “details” often determine success—a single arrow, a distance marker, or a language choice can change a person’s confidence in navigating the city.

In the future, we hope to extend this design approach to more urban nodes, making Kuala Lumpur a more legible, friendly, and inclusive city.