Landmarks

A landmark is a distinctive object that people use as a reference point to work out where they are. In Kevin Lynch's study The Image of the City (1960), landmarks are reference points a person does not enter, such as buildings, signs, mountains or public art, with at least one aspect that is unique or memorable in context (Wikipedia: The Image of the City). The Level Design Book uses Lynch's definition: "easily identifiable entities which are used for point-referencing, usually physical objects" (The Level Design Book: Wayfinding). Landmarks are one of the most direct ways environment art supports wayfinding.

#Lynch's five elements

Lynch's study of Boston, Jersey City and Los Angeles concluded that people build mental maps from five elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks (Wikipedia: The Image of the City). Landmarks differ from nodes because you cannot enter them, while nodes are focal places you can enter; Lynch's list also includes mobile reference points such as the sun (Wikipedia: The Image of the City).

#Global and local landmarks

Games use landmarks at two scales:

• Global landmarks are visible from almost everywhere and give a constant direction: a mountain, a tower, a citadel.
• Local landmarks identify one junction or room: a crashed vehicle, a statue, a coloured light.

#Landmarks in multiplayer

In multiplayer, landmarks also give players shared names for places. The Level Design Book notes that a hero prop or building "should ground an important place in the level", and that such landmarks "help facilitate callouts" (The Level Design Book: Environment Art), so teammates can say "sniper by the statue" instead of describing coordinates. See hero assets, props and filler.

#What makes a good landmark

1. Unique. Lynch stresses an aspect that is unique or memorable in context (Wikipedia: The Image of the City). Two identical towers confuse more than they help.
2. Visible. Players don't look up unless something draws the eye, and they look where they are moving (The Level Design Book: Wayfinding). Place landmarks where sightlines and paths point.
3. Contrasting. Players notice contrast in colour, shape, lighting and movement (The Level Design Book: Wayfinding). Give the landmark a strong silhouette and value contrast against the sky or background.
4. Stable. A landmark that moves or disappears breaks the mental map, unless that effect is intended.
5. Tied to the goal (sometimes). A landmark can be a destination, as in Journey, or just an anchor that is never visited.

#Related terms

wayfinding · layout and flow · focal point · silhouette · hero assets, props and filler · composition · signifier

#Further reading and watching