What is You Are Here Map?
A map displayed at a fixed location that marks the viewer's current position to help them orient themselves.
Definition
A You are here map is a map placed at a specific physical location that clearly marks where the viewer is standing. The marker, often a dot, star or arrow with the words You are here, gives people an anchor point so they can relate the map to the space around them and plan their route. These maps are common in malls, campuses, hospitals, transport hubs and increasingly in offices.
The concept is simple but powerful. Most people find maps hard to read when they do not know their own position. Once that is known, the rest of the map suddenly makes sense.
Example
A coworking space with two floors installs a screen at the main entrance and another beside the lift on the second floor. Each screen shows the same interactive map, but the You are here marker is set to that screen's location. A member arriving for the first time glances at the entrance screen, sees the large marker at the door and notices the kitchen is straight ahead and the phone booths to the right.
When the member types a meeting room as a destination, the route starts at the marker, so the directions match exactly what she sees in front of her.
How it relates to an office map
In the Office Map Editor you can click any spot, such as the entrance, and press Set as You are here; a large marker then appears on the editor, shared links and office screens. Every route on that link starts from the marker automatically, so visitors only need to choose where they want to go.
Why the marker matters
Orientation is the first step of navigation. Without a clear starting point, people waste time trying to match the map to their surroundings and often head in the wrong direction. A large, obvious You are here marker removes that step and makes the map immediately useful, especially for visitors and infrequent office users.
Design guidelines
A You are here map must be readable in seconds. Research on wayfinding suggests a few simple rules make a big difference.
- Make the marker large, high-contrast and labelled
- Orient the map so up on the map matches forward for the viewer
- Show nearby landmarks such as kitchens or lifts
- Keep labels short and large enough to read at a distance
- Use one marker per map location; never reuse a map with the wrong position
Common mistakes
The most damaging mistake is placing the same map, with the same marker, at several locations. Viewers then believe they are somewhere they are not. Small or low-contrast markers are another issue, as are maps rotated relative to the viewer, which force people to turn the map mentally before they can use it.
Digital You are here maps
Digital maps on screens add new possibilities. They can show live routes from the marker to any destination, highlight temporary closures and stay in sync with layout changes. Each screen can have its own link and marker while sharing the same underlying plan, so an update to the plan reaches every screen at once.
Checking that it works
Stand in front of the map yourself and ask a colleague unfamiliar with the area to find a destination using only the map. Watch where they hesitate. Collect feedback from visitors and reception. If people can turn and walk confidently after a few seconds, the map is doing its job; if not, adjust orientation, marker size or labels.