Roberts M, Newton and Canals – RADICAL DEPARTURES 2016

Description

This study compared an industry-standard octolinear Berlin U-/S-Bahn map with a novel concentric-circles-and-spokes design in a within-subjects experiment with 40 mainly Berlin-unfamiliar London participants. Each completed six complex journeys per map while researchers recorded planning time, errors, and estimated journey duration; a 22-item questionnaire captured usability, attractiveness, and preference. The octolinear map produced significantly faster planning (~25.2s vs 30.9s, ~20% faster) and higher aggregate usability scores, while errors and estimated durations did not differ. Despite poorer objective performance, the concentric design had strong visual appeal and attracted some users—overall 33/40 preferred the octolinear map, though attractiveness ratings were similar and sex differences emerged (males favored concentric attractiveness; females favored octolinear). The authors propose a five-part schematic effectiveness framework (simplicity, coherence, balance, harmony, topographicity), argue that concentric layouts trade simplicity for coherence, and recommend prioritizing line-trajectory simplicity and objective usability testing, noting suitability depends on network structure and user differences.