Wayfinding Strategist

Populous•Kansas City, KS

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

We design places where people love to be together. Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus: to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human moments. We’ve designed and delivered some of the world's most memorable civic, sports and entertainment buildings, from iconic stadia to ground-breaking live music venues. Populous is where architects and designers of all kinds create moments bigger than ourselves. We offer the best of both worlds: the resources and impact of the design giants and the tightly knit atmosphere and growth opportunities of smaller firms. Are you a skilled researcher with proven experience in successful wayfinding strategy? The Wayfinding Strategist will lead the development of navigation strategies that transform spatial data and user insights into actionable design direction for large-scale venues and public event projects. Our preferred candidate has 5+ years in Urban Design, Wayfinding Design or Planning and proven experience analyzing complex environments and developing naming, coding, and circulation strategies. (Applicants without demonstrated experience in wayfinding will not be eligible for consideration).

Requirements

Deep understanding of wayfinding planning and strategy, including user journeys, spatial cognition, and environmental psychology.
Ability to guide teammates in alignment with plans for overall accuracy and ensure strategy follow-through.
Demonstrated proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat), SketchUp, Microsoft Office Suite, and presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Keynote.
Experienced in planning and willing to work in BIM 360/Revit to further understand projects.
Working knowledge of signage design principles, message hierarchy, ADA accessibility standards, and fabrication awareness.
Knowledge of human-centered design frameworks, attitudinal and behavioral research methods, and data-driven decision-making.
Skilled communicator able to synthesize complex information and present clearly to clients, consultants and internal teams.
Familiar with crowd modeling, pedestrian flow analysis, or operational planning tools .
Highly self-motivated, proactive, detail-oriented, collaborative, and adaptable in order to manage multiple moving parts and coordinate across diverse project teams .
5+ years of experience in Urban Design, Wayfinding Design or Planning.
An accredited bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Design, UX, Graphic Design, Visual Communications or related field.
Proven experience analyzing complex environments and developing naming, coding, and circulation strategies that improve clarity and orientation.

Responsibilities

Conducting research and developing wayfinding strategies for select high-profile venues, grounded in user behavior, spatial analysis, and intuitive navigation principles.
Creating comprehensive reports that analyze movement patterns, decision points, and circulation challenges to inform design direction.
Developing spatial strategies, sign location plans, wayfinding messaging, construction document models, and documentation packages.
Defining and documenting naming systems, coding logic, and environmental design strategies.
Collaborating closely with design teams, architects, and clients to translate strategic findings into actionable design outcomes.
Occasionally attending site visits to observe user behavior, validate assumptions, and ensure built work aligns with strategy and intent.