Coimbatore Railway Junction
Environmental Graphics & Wayfinding of the Coimbatore Railway Junction.
The Coimbatore Railway Junction is a major railway station located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the busiest railway stations, with six platforms and is the third highest revenue generating station in the zone after Chennai Central and Egmore and also generates about 45 percent of the revenue of the Salem railway division. Coimbatore Junction is an important junction connecting major cities such as Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata.
Being a highly frequented locus point for travels to and from coimbatore (owing to my undergraduate studies in design there), with high and regular interaction and confusion with its signage and navigation systems—It was a natural beckoning to study this junction.
View the research and analysis here.
GuidePrabhjot Dhillon
CreditsRishi NandanPrimary research involved a week of field research in the railway junction. Right from disorganised permissions from the railway officials to photograph and conduct research as students, to the actual experience of navigating through the crowded platforms and chaotic signages that reduce the capacity of basic human understanding and awareness to sub zero—Our field research covered more than enough ground to focus on addressing the important concerns of spatial systems—navigation, awareness and quality.
The vivid, almost provocative graphics of various types of human excrement that are forbidden in the railway station are an excellent example of lowering the ability of fundamental human understanding. In this scenario, it virtually implies that such behaviours in public places are so prevalent (rightfully so) and accepted as normal (questionable) that this level of visual depiction is necessary to make a law. Do we see the same at airports?
Way-finding research was done in a manner where the basic problem
of unclear signage, poor information hierarchy and too many visual
liberties taken was addressed from a larger vantage point, letting go
of personal biases.
Exploring methods of textual profiling, hierarchical sizing and optimal distancing, graphical structures that provide accurate and concise information, especially in case of an emergency situation were part of the design process followed.
A Flexible grid was arrived at, drawing parameters from mukta and the hierarchy and graphics were loosely derived from it.
One can imagine, the Historic Indian Railways, one day, devoid of clutter, serving the outstanding public for years to come. Until then, we do classroom projects at design schools :)