Making the System Work: Wayfinding for the Scarborough Subway Extension

By Karen Zwart Hielema

Image courtesy of Metrolinx

I love it when systems work well – when they are clear and efficient. With every sign that we place in a transit station, our goal is for a seamless passenger journey. Sometimes the architecture facilitates wayfinding, and a sign is not needed!

The DEXD team has been awarded a role as wayfinding and signage consultants as part of the larger delivery team for Scarborough Subway Extension. This marks our second large-scale transit project in Canada, and we’re thrilled to bring our expertise in human-centered design and intuitive wayfinding to this global team of experts including SENER, DIALOG, and GUNN.

A subway line is more than just a line—it’s a vital transportation system that stitches the fabric of a city and keeps our communities connected. The line will extend Toronto's Line 2 subway by 7.8 km, connecting with more than six transit options across the city. This expansion will replace the Scarborough RT (Line 3) and help reduce travel times while improving access to jobs, schools, and other destinations in Toronto. An image can speak a thousand words, but there are numbers that carry deep meaning. Consider the impact this line will have:

• Ridership: 105,000 daily boardings

• Increase in transit use: 52,000 daily

• People within walking distance: 38,000

• Access to jobs: 34,000

• Annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: 10,000 tonnes

Delivering large-scale, complex projects can sometimes make it easy to lose sight of the broader importance of our work as we navigate through daily tasks, submissions, and technical reviews. But it’s important to remind ourselves that at the heart of every professional involved in a public project is a passion for doing good for the community. It’s about working toward the mission of creating collective joy and building spaces where everyone’s quality of life improves.

That’s why, with every sign we place in the subway systems, we are one step closer to fulfilling the mission of our company: creating spaces that enhance people’s lives.

Congratulations, DEXD team!

Intuitive Wayfinding Design at University of Toronto Scarborough: MBG Health Sciences Complex

Artist Rendering, Image Courtesy of Diamond Schmitt Architects and MVRDV

DEXD team has been selected as wayfinding and signage consultant for the University of Toronto Scarborough. Our team has been working closely  with EllisDon, Diamond Schmitt & MVRDV. The Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health at the University of Toronto Scarborough serves as a welcoming centre for education and fosters relationships between local healthcare professionals. The campus houses education programs including Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science, Department of Health & Society, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Includes a dedicated Clinic and Pharmacy for the public.

Collaboration with such a prestigious and Canada's number one institution is an incredible opportunity, and we will our creative ideas and the fresh approach to Customer Experience Design to the team. Our approach is to create a system for information and placemaking elements including the donor’s recognition design elements in a holistic approach. Our goal is to be consistent, improve the student, faculty and public experience, and strengthen the university's brand. The design philosophy is to start with Customer Journey Mapping and identify the key decision making points. The strategic positioning of directional and identification signage at decision points, junctions, and entrances are coordinated in weekly meetings with architect of record. We have considered the campus's size, complexity, different user needs, and future development in mind.

The primary advantages of this technique are easier navigation, increased safety, a positive customer experience, and a strengthened brand identification.

Our approach to wayfinding and information design system is “Less is more”. We believe good architecture, same as this building, is intuitive by nature and we are helping and supporting the design team to further refine the navigation system without over powering the space with multiple wayfinding elements.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue on our journey.

"Mission: Possible"

By Gelare Danaie

After 20+ years in architectural practice, traveling, experiencing life, and observing the connections between people and places, I realized what truly important to me is to be able to impact everyday life by designing spaces for people, and to challenge the top down approach of architectural practice.

Although the experiential design layer is the first impression for people, harmonizing and managing its elements is usually a tricky task for architects. Having the experience of being an architect in charge of managing the consultants in a large scale project, I realized there is a gap in the practice of overseeing all the public facing elements that include wayfinding, environmental graphic design, digital communication, advertising, activation, and art.

This is how DEXD came to life. I decided to create a platform that would combine architectural planning and experiential elements in complex environments. Our first major contract was Metrolinx Subway Station Architecture Design Standard. The mandate was to prepare a design standard for all the subway stations within GTHA area, the most important project being Ontario Line South!

While working with Metrolinx back in 2020 and as we were mapping all the architectural typologies of stations for the future line, I opened my personal notebook and wrote down my vision with a sharpie pen: «DEXD will be the Wayfinding designer for the line!»

Fast forward to 2023, my phone rang on a Friday afternoon in August and I got the news that we were chosen as the Wayfinding consultant for all Ontario Line South stations.

I believe business and life are similar, there are lots of ups and downs, wins and losses, but if you have a vision, you share your true values, and put all your heart in what you do, there is a big chance you will achieve what you want.