I know a lot of people. It’s one of the favorite parts of my life. But there is someone out there I need to meet. Would someone please introduce me to an airport interior design expert?
I am dangerously ingnorant, and intensely opinionated, about the flow of things in airports. A recent trip to JFK reminded me of this weakness. I am not proud of it, but I do spend a lot of time at airports getting frustrated and repeating (out loud or to myself), “If I find this confusing, what about the person who just got off the plane to the U.S. for the first time?!” or, more commonly, “What would I do if I didn’t speak English?” Symbols, somebody, symbols!
Please don’t misunderstand me. I know that this is a science, and industry, that requires years of study and implementation. But I need to sit down with somebody to learn how (and why!) it seems that some of our busiest and most impressive passenger terminals are designed by the Minotaur. We have perfected the art of signage and have beautiful international symbols that help people understand where to go and what to do for almost every situation. Then why is it that we cannot do a better job of designing and clearly signing the airports that are the welcome portal for our visitors, friends, critics and immigrants?
Let’s be honest, as arduous as it is to change planes at Heathrow or Charles de Gaulle, at least most people can figure it out.
If this post sounds a bit like a crowdsourced plea for help, it is. I will do a lot of flying before I die, so I’d love to figure out what is going on in some of our best U.S. airports so I can bring down the personal tension level. Anyone know someone who can talk it through with me? I promise to share my learning here on GlobalExtrovert. And I also promise to share with people when I find some exceptions to my hastily-formulated rule. In the meantime, I am going to look for Terminal 2.