Early on-site research and observation revealed that patients and visitors need more than just signs to help the find their way in the melange of legacy buildings. We designed the identity for a wayfinding system brand, Access, to serve as simple visual connection among the signs, people, print and technology tools of the solution. Here, Access blade signs identify the primary public pathways of the system, much like a subway line.

Along the pathways, notable architectural spaces and art installations serve as landmarks. These "subway stops" offer visitors information and directions via maps, directories, touch screen kiosks, and a vast network of volunteers. Each landmark is named and identified with a unique color and icon to simplify the system for the non-English speaking population. Instruction sets are thus be as simple as, "Follow the Access pathway until you reach the [landmark name] to find your destination. Gone are the days of the "Go left, then right, past the windows, then right again..." failed instructions.

Public pathways and landmarks offer area maps to help visitors orient themselves on the campus –– and locally. Additional triptych signs, produced in the same visual vocabulary as the wayfinding signs, tell the stories of cancer survivors and help long-term and repeat patients and visitors pass the time with good news. We later repurposed the survivor stories and the photography, by Wyatt McSpadden, in book format thanks to an "Ideas That Matter" grant from Sappi Fine Paper.

Interior maps employ a dimensional "You are here" symbol to help visitors orient themselves in complex spaces, and to find nearby departments and amenities. Testing showed that adding dimension to these symbols made them more quickly seen and easily utilized.

"You are here" icons also appear on elevator directories that list the clinics served by landmark elevator banks.

A secure touch screen kiosk system ties in to M. D. Anderson's patient scheduling system and allows users to enter their patient identification number to see their appointment schedules and generate custom walking directions from the kiosk to their next appointment. Printed direction sets make use of symbols and icons instead of lengthy text.

Numbered entry markers signal to drivers the turn-off points for M. D. Anderson within the dense and complex Texas Medical Center. TMC also adopted the entry marker design and logic for use throughout their property.

Key to the success of Access was the adoption of the system by 13,000 staff and volunteers who are critical to helping patients find their way. The Access online training program was introduced with posters and fliers throughout the campus.

A complete suite of complementary paper tools are available for patients, visitors, volunteers, and staff, all Access branded. We worked with M. D. Anderson's communication department to identify the best methods to target and distribute requisite materials to all different audience members.