Shuo Feng

Email: sd22s2f@leeds.ac.uk
Thesis title: A study of design strategies on the safety of wayfinding for older people in the design of age-friendly signage in UK retirement communities
Supervisors: Dr Jeanne-Louise Moys, Dr Yuchan Zhang, Dr Cătălina Zlotea

Profile

University of Leeds
Qualification: MA Design
09/2022-11/2023

Kingston University London
Qualification: Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice
09/2021-07/2022

Research interests

My research interests are centered on the field of design, with a particular focus on graphic design, typography, color theory, and inclusive design. I am especially interested in the typographic aspects of signage systems. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I actively participated in volunteer work at nursing homes. This experience highlighted numerous issues with signage design in elderly care facilities across the UK. These issues include font spacing and size, signage placement height, language choice (such as the inclusion of Braille), visual flow, and structural readability. Additionally, there is a lack of systematic guidelines for designing signage that is accessible and friendly to older adults.

Therefore, my research aims to explore design strategies for elderly-friendly signage, focusing particularly on how to enhance wayfinding safety and accessibility for older adults in retirement communities in the UK. By improving readability, comprehensibility, and visual comfort in signage, this research seeks to meet the needs of older adults and provide practical guidance for creating age-friendly environments.