Researchers testing hand-held interactive guides that use landmarks as navigational cues discovered that these devices can help both younger and older adults move through a space, but were particularly useful for older adults.
Studies consistently show strong commonalities in people’s visual preferences and, often, what professional designers like most, the public likes least. In planning a new place, interior, or building, it makes sense to plan the appearance. It also makes sense to evaluate the appearance of existing places to find out how people react to them.