3rd January 2012

Stourbridge Bus Station nears completion

Having created the bus station signage plan for Centro to write their tender for the construction contract at the end of 2010, FWT was called back to devise all the internal and external signage.

The October 2010 plans detailed contents and locations of all wayfinding aspects for quantity purchasing purposes. At the end of 2011, with construction advancing, we were commissioned to provide full-size dimension drawings for sign manufacture throughout. These were accompanied by detailed fixing instructions and materials to be used. In order for it all to come together, a large scale site plan was produced, with all signs having a reference number and annotation to the plan. The manufacturers and site foreman would need this to ensure each sign went to the correct location and faced the correct way. We also liaised with the manufacturers to ensure the brand guidelines were fully adhered to.

The signage not only encompassed the bus station catchment, but also extended to a complex town centre subway, feeding in both directions. The bus station is due to open soon.

18th October 2011

New Docklands Light Railway station posters commissioned

As a result of customer research, it has been decided to convert all platform posters to a style similar to those used on London Underground. We were instrumental in setting up those for LU a few years ago and are pleased to now being doing likewise for Docklands Light Railway.

Initial trials are being done on two stations, with a view to rolling out across the whole network early next year.

13th October 2011:

Leicester city centre reaches outwards

After very positive client reaction, FWT has been appointed to investigate and implement the major upgrading of passenger information on two substantial suburban corridors. A Local Sustainable Transport Fund grant is being used for the first stage and is due for completion within the current financial year. (See also previous News Item 29th May 2011.)

6th October 2011

Cardiff information suite expands

Following the successful implementation of the city centre and bus station wayfinding system, FWT was appointed to similarly equip the tourist Cardiff Bay area. Building on this, the city centre scheme is now being extended north.

30th August 2011

TfL appoints FWT for Olympic Games consultation mapping

Talk about previous work on Tranche 4 - and explain what it means. Focus on technical liaison with CAD and GIS teams and critical importance of minutiae for legal consultation. In-house consultants, Parsnips Brinkmanship (or whatever their name is) struggling with compex central London area and recommended FWT, which TfL gladly accepted.

24th July 2011

Wolverhampton’s new bus station opens

We are pleased to announce the expansive new facility opened on Sunday. FWT provided all the usual static information based on our designs for the Network West Midlands umbrella brand rolled out since 2005. This has been enhanced by electronic touch screens at the entrance to the new bus station where we designed the look and feel of the information to harmonize accordingly. Whether passengers prefer a static poster or a touch screen, the same information is available and easy to use. (photo of a screen and the logic diagram?)

22nd June 2011

Docklands Light Railway commissions usability re-design

Following poor customer usability feedback, three companies were approached and asked to write a comprehensive analysis of what they believed was causing the present diagram to fail, the reasons why, how they would improve it, and to provide reasons that stood up to scrutiny. When appointed, we were told that our report showed a significant understanding of the problem and the solution, that our competitors had not. We are always gratified to receive such recognition of the importance of a sound product that helps our client and their customers alike.

29th May 2011

The Where and When in Leicester City Centre

Following a pilot scheme in 2009, we have designed a comprehensive wayfinding system for the whole city centre. Every bus stop (about 80 of them) has a newly devised and more logical bus stop identity system that co- ordinates with boarding information in the shelters and makes finding the right stop much easier. Even alighting-only stops provide onward travel assistance now.

Each stop also has a stop-specific timetable and linear diagram of routes from it. The latter gives reassurance that the route about the be boarded indeed goes where the passenger wants to, and the timetables tell them when. Importantly, operators' logos are appended to the appropriate routes on the diagram, making a strong association between provider and route number – at eye level. They do not appear on the flags and so making an unambiguous location for route numbers only. Passengers get the primary information they need without distraction, and operators get their ‘sell’ better associated with their product.