India's first ward-level wayfinding design to encourage walking
Designing India's first ward-level wayfinding system for D-Ward in Mumbai
Location
Mumbai, India
Service
Wayfinding Design
Year
2022-2023
Collaborators
D-Ward, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Role
Lead - Strategy, Design and Execution
Very often, people are not aware of the nearby walkable destinations, landmarks and emergency locations. We worked with D-Ward in Mumbai to develop a solid wayfinding system for D-Ward South consisting of 24 large scale wayfinding signages to be installed at strategic locations without hindering any walking pathways.
Designs for prototyping in D-ward, Mumbai | Credits: Aangi Shah
Real life prototype of the signage to be deployed on the streets & signage placement strategy in D Ward | Credits: Aangi Shah
"Street signs are a great way to encourage people to explore their surroundings & build a community"
When people see what’s around them through a simple ‘You Are Here’ map, their world opens up - sparking childlike curiosity and a joyful urge to explore!
In the heart of Mumbai’s D Ward, a quiet transformation is unfolding about helping people see what already exists. The D Ward Wayfinding System is rooted in a simple insight: when people are shown what’s around them through clear, accessible ‘You Are Here’ maps, their city starts to feel more familiar, more exciting - and full of possibility. Curiosity is sparked, movement follows, and the city becomes a place to explore, not just pass through.
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To bring this vision to life, 25 beautifully designed, front-and-back printed maps were created, each one tailored to the local context. Real-life prototypes were tested on the ground, refined through public feedback, and pressure-tested to ensure they truly worked for the people they were meant for. This wasn’t just a design exercise - it was a behavioural shift in the making.
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Though still underway, the project is already reframing how citizens interact with their neighbourhoods - turning ordinary streets into landmarks, unknown corners into destinations, and walking into an act of discovery.
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The D Ward Wayfinding System isn’t just about maps. It’s about orientation, dignity, and reawakening the joy of finding your way - one glance, one step, one neighbourhood at a time.