Comunicazione, orientamento e wayfinding a bordo di grandi navi. Verso un sistema integrato e user-centered.

The research takes the cue from observing resources and critical issues of the ways of communication currently the most used in these contexts, to come up with innovative solutions in designing new strategies and techniques conveying effective information to passengers aboard large vessels. On one hand, being on board a great ship like a ferry or a cruise vessel can be perceived as a disorienting experience for some people, especially if lived for the first time, making them feeling a frustrating sense of “not being able to find the way” to reach their destination and affecting the enjoyment of the trip, contributing to lower their satisfaction or, even, putting at risk comfort and safety perception of the travelers. On the other hand, the communications system on board a passenger vessel must meet a multiplicity of conditions not only linked to multilingualism, but also to the diversification of situations and contents, according to the typology of the ship, be it a cruise ship or a ro-ro ferry. The state of the art referred to this theme makes it clear that on board, often, messages of various kinds are layered, characterized by their respective graphic languages, determining potential misunderstandings or, worse, even lack of attention to what is indicated. The level of complexity of these environments, as well as the transport conditions, however, makes essential the use of frequent announcements aimed both at improving the experience and optimizing certain operations such as, for example, disembarkation and boarding. To this kind of communication must also be added communication on security regulated by international references and declined, in turn, according to its own iconographic repertoire. The coexistence of this panorama of 'signs' frequently determines a sort of black out in the logistical and functional orientation. Then, starting from a previous investigation on several aspects related to the issue of the wayfinding from the point of view of psychology, sociology, and design, as well as on the matter of communication in ordinary and extraordinary conditions, the research carried out focuses on the study for a proposal of communication methods that can distinguish a certain type of messages from others, managing to make use of unexpected and above all differentiated methods and locations. The proposal object of the research therefore turned to the development of visual narratives, even animated, which can be projected according to the need in parts of the ship where usually it’s not expected to see indications or communications of any kind, even on complex surfaces thanks to the use of particular 3D projectors.