ABSTRACT
The renewed attempt by the Plateau State Government to further review the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan has made the opportunity for the inclusion of appropriate way-finding signs in to the entire design process imperative. This has given rise to this study, which is to determine whether the some existing Directional Signs in Jos metropolis conform to ISOTYPE (International System Of TYpographic Picture Education). ISOTYPEis a concept developed by Otto Neurath as a system of combining written text and symbols for effective communication at all levels of literacy. A total of 150 non literate and 132 literate persons and ten existing Directional Signs were selected using stratified random sampling procedure constituted the population of the study. A combination of survey and experimental design methods were used for the study. Questionnaires administered in interview sessions were used for data collection. Furthermore, symbol recognition test was administered to the respondents and the findings were used in redesigning directional signs for Jos metropolis. The results revealed that 88% of non-literate and 98% of literate respondents correctly identified symbols; only 10% of DS combined text and symbol, 30% symbol only, while 60% were text only. The study recommends combination of text and symbol as DS, and proper testing and education of symbols before putting them to use.
The renewed attempt by the Plateau State Government to further review the implementation of the Greater Jos Master Plan has made the opportunity for the inclusion of appropriate way-finding signs in to the entire design process imperative. This has given rise to this study, which is to determine whether the some existing Directional Signs in Jos metropolis conform to ISOTYPE (International System Of TYpographic Picture Education). ISOTYPEis a concept developed by Otto Neurath as a system of combining written text and symbols for effective communication at all levels of literacy. A total of 150 non literate and 132 literate persons and ten existing Directional Signs were selected using stratified random sampling procedure constituted the population of the study. A combination of survey and experimental design methods were used for the study. Questionnaires administered in interview sessions were used for data collection. Furthermore, symbol recognition test was administered to the respondents and the findings were used in redesigning directional signs for Jos metropolis. The results revealed that 88% of non-literate and 98% of literate respondents correctly identified symbols; only 10% of DS combined text and symbol, 30% symbol only, while 60% were text only. The study recommends combination of text and symbol as DS, and proper testing and education of symbols before putting them to use.
