Al Sadeem

A wayfinding system proposal for an observatory in the desert of Abu Dhabi, UAE.

  • Wayfinding
Directional signs for three buildings at the observatory

Role: Team Lead & Designer

For: Al Sadeem Observatory

Tools: Illustrator, Photoshop

Team

Fatema Alhameli, Designer

Shahd Ngim, Designer

Maisy Nelson, Designer

Course

Wayfinding

Goffredo Puccetti, Instructor

Al Sadeem Observatory is dedicated to making astronomy accessible through stargazing experiences and guided tours. Located in the desert of Abu Dhabi, Al Sadeem is essential in promoting astronomy education in the UAE.

In line with Al Sadeem’s mission to promote space and astronomy, my team was tasked with designing a proposal for a wayfinding system. This system was intended to improve ground navigation while adding to the visitor experience through placemaking. The designs aimed to blend functional clarity with the observatory’s education and exploratory atmosphere, guiding visitors through the site and fueling a connection to the cosmos.

Overhead map of the observatory grounds with decision points
Decision points mapped across the observatory grounds
Printed satellite imagery of the observatory annotated with sticky notes
Mapping the visitor journey on satellite imagery

Research & Planning

In planning signage placement, we relied upon satellite imagery, our observatory visit, and visitors' testimony. From all our research, we analyzed and identified decision points in the user journey when navigating and decided on what areas made the most sense to place a sign.

Night photo of the observatory with an informational sign
Informational sign at the observatory
Night photo of the office entrance with an informational sign
Sign at the office entrance
Photo of the road with a directional sign toward the observatory
Directional sign on the approach road

Signage Design

We divided navigation into two spaces: outside and within the observatory. We developed a flexible signage system for navigation within observatory grounds to accommodate different priorities, including identification, information, or world-building. Being in Abu Dhabi, we also acknowledged the need to design signs in both Arabic and English, paying attention to the diversity among visitors.