Airports are among the most complex public environments we encounter. They demand seamless transitions between security, immigration, commercial zones, and transport connections, while accommodating a vast mix of users. Designing them well is hard enough. Getting it wrong is expensive. From terminal upgrades to wayfinding changes or car park redevelopments, every major airport project represents a significant investment. Even small delays or inefficiencies in access and navigation can carry a...

Testing signage comprehension in one of Australia’s most linguistically diverse hospitals. Client: NSW Health Infrastructure Location: Auburn Hospital, New South Wales, Australia Project scope: User research, signage strategy, UX testing, health literacy evaluation Creating clarity under pressure In a hospital, signs are more than labels. They're often the first—and sometimes only—interface between a person in distress and the help they need. But in environments like Auburn Hospital, where...

Abstract This paper presents the methodology, findings, and implications of a comprehensive VR-based usability study conducted at the new Wyndham Law Courts. Located in Melbourne's west, the facility serves one of Victoria's most culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Ahead of its opening, Humanics Collective led the design and testing of a wayfinding strategy to ensure the building would be intuitive and accessible for all users. In partnership with Deakin Motion Lab, the team...

In the dynamic environment of modern air travel, inclusive design has emerged as a cornerstone for enhancing the passenger experience. Moving beyond traditional notions of accessibility, which often focus solely on individuals with disabilities, inclusive design embraces the diverse needs of all travellers—be it parents with prams, individuals with heavy luggage, elderly passengers, or those with temporary injuries. By considering the full spectrum of human diversity, airports can create...

Most accessibility consultants start with compliance. We start with people—which is why we don’t call ourselves accessibility consultants, but inclusive design consultants. Because there’s a difference between a space that just meets the standard—and one that actually works. Ticking the boxes is one thing. Designing for confidence, independence, and dignity is another. Inclusive design, for us, isn’t about whether a ramp is technically compliant. It’s about whether someone can enter a space...

In airports, railway stations, law courts, and other complex environments, design decisions directly affect real-life outcomes. That’s why we don’t leave usability to chance. At Humanics Collective, testing is built into our process. It’s how we turn good design into systems that actually work. Human-Centred Means Evidence-Informed Our work is grounded in Environmental Psychology and behavioural design. We don’t guess how people will behave. We study it. Whether it’s through on-site...

Some places just feel easy. You walk in and immediately understand where you are, where to go, and what to do. No searching. No second-guessing. No stress. That’s what we call an intuitive environment. It doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from deliberate choices that help people make sense of the space as they move through it. A Space You Can Read Urban planner Kevin Lynch called it legibility: the ability to form a clear mental image of a place. In a legible environment, the layout speaks...

Urban safety isn’t always about what happens in a space—it’s about what people think might happen. A park might be statistically safe, but still feel unsettling. A shortcut might be legal and well-lit, but still avoided after dark. Why? Because behaviour in public space is shaped as much by psychology as it is by policy. Environmental Psychology (EP)—the science of how people perceive and respond to their surroundings—offers a powerful lens for improving behaviour and wellbeing in urban...

Experiential design turns spaces into stories. Done well, it doesn’t just make a place look good—it makes it feel right. It evokes emotion, builds identity, and connects people to the environment. Whether you’re in a hospital, a campus, or a stadium, you’re not just navigating architecture. You’re moving through meaning. And that meaning doesn’t happen by accident. Experience Is Never Neutral Every space says something—even when it says nothing at all. A hospital can comfort or overwhelm. A...

The Sunshine Coast University Hospital ruling and its impact on inclusive wayfinding In 2021, the Federal Circuit Court ruled that the design and construction of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) indirectly discriminated against people with vision impairments. The plaintiff, Peter Ryan—who was legally blind—successfully argued that the hospital’s built environment imposed conditions he could not reasonably meet, in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) ([Ryan v...

Great signage isn’t where wayfinding starts. And it definitely isn’t where it ends. A successful wayfinding strategy begins long before a single sign is designed. It starts with understanding how people move through a space, what they’re trying to do, and what might get in their way. It connects architecture, planning, user psychology, and operational needs to shape an environment that supports confident, intuitive movement from start to finish. At Humanics Collective, wayfinding is never...

When Design Makes Tech Work for People Technology is everywhere. It powers our buildings, connects our services, and guides our users. But too often, it’s designed by technicians focused on systems, and definitely not for people. At Humanics Collective, we don’t build technology, we make it usable. Our focus is the human experience of technology: how technology fits into the customer journey, and how people actually encounter, interpret, and act on what’s in front of them. Whether it’s a...

Design that looks good on paper doesn’t always work in practice. That’s why we test it before it’s built, and after it’s in use. At Humanics Collective, we use behavioural research and performance testing to validate how environments actually work for the people using them. Our methods combine user observation, cognitive load assessments, eye-tracking, VR simulations, gap analysis, and post-occupancy evaluation. Whether it’s a signage system, a hospital layout, a new check-in process, or...

People-focused services only work when they work together Everyone talks about integration. But on projects, we still see silos. Architecture gets a head start. Engineering solves for systems. Wayfinding is brought in too late. Accessibility is seen as compliance only. UX and service design? Optional extras, if you’re lucky. Then we all act surprised when the place doesn’t work. People-focused services—like wayfinding, service design, inclusive design, user experience design—aren’t add-ons....

Designing Services That Actually Work for People Most service failures aren’t caused by bad interfaces. They’re caused by poor coordination, unclear handovers, and disconnected systems. That’s why we take a different approach. At Humanics Collective, we combine service design and user experience design to shape the full experience—across physical and digital touchpoints, behind the scenes and front of house. We start by mapping the service journey, exposing the friction points, and designing...

Designing Spaces That Shape How People Feel, Think, and Behave Every environment influences us. It affects how we act, how we feel, and how we move through the world. Sometimes those effects are obvious, like when a crowded corridor makes us anxious or poor lighting leaves us disoriented. Other times, they’re subtle—a sense of calm in a well-designed waiting area, or an easier decision thanks to layout cues we don’t even realise we’re following. Environmental Psychology helps us understand...

Maps might seem outdated in a world of apps and GPS, but in complex places like hospitals, universities, or civic precincts, a well-designed map can be a lifeline. It’s more than just information—it provides orientation, reassurance, and a sense of control. That small dot— You are here —can anchor the entire experience. Why orientation matters Feeling disoriented increases anxiety. But when people can see where they are in relation to where they need to be, stress drops immediately. A...

Wayfinding isn’t just about putting up signs. It’s about making spaces legible—so people can understand, move, and orient themselves with ease. Landmarks are central to this. They help us remember where we are, recognise decision points, and navigate with confidence. Often, they’re more intuitive and more effective than traditional signage. Why landmarks matter When we give directions, we use cues we remember, and that others may recognise or remember too. We say things like “turn left at the...