EOYS - Exhibition Map Development II Colour Coding

Having found a schematic design that we liked for the exhibition guide maps I had a go at tweaking / improving the colour coding and navigation.

(Please note that these examples are only for the ground floor)

The first improvement you'll notice is that a number has been added to each stairwell and each lift - this is designed to give the map user reference points on each floor map to help them judge where they will be coming out on each floor in relation to the rooms on that floor.

The second addition is the numbering of the rooms on each floor. These will link to a numbered key for each floor so a course can be cross referenced for its location. One located on the map the colour given to the course will link the map to the signage so that the user can look for the course specific colour and follow its trail until they get to their destination. 

I tried colouring the numbers but this only helps to lose clarity slightly. There is no need for both the room and it's number to be coloured.   

An attempt to not use the colour coding - although the map and its numbered system would still work, the user would now not have any visual navigation clues on the signage, therefore this approach is much less successful. Also, the lack of colour would mean that the signs would look pretty drab and boring.

Using just colour coded numbers means that there is a lack of emphasis on the colour coded aspect (map + signage) as it would now be doing two roles. Better to keep them seperated.

Winner:

Colour coded course corners + numbered floor key.