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The purpose of this study was to investigate the state of the directional signs in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. However, it was observed that the signs in the university environment were not professionally done, that is, they are not uniform and lack the capacity to direct students to their various destinations, thus creating a gap which this study sought to fill. The paper sought to to design and develop a prototype-unified directional signage in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria that would assist students locate various places within the university environment. Relevant literature on wayfinding signage, role of design elements and principles, prototyping in design were reviewed. The paper interrogated existing signage mounted in all the faculties on campus the import of which was to assess the level of adherence to the use of elements and principles of design in the design and production of those directional signage. Survey and observation methods were employed to collect data on designing and developing a prototype-unified directional signage in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Questionnaire was the instrument used and administered on clustered samples from which 395 responses were elicited. New directional prototypes were designed and erected on campus for twelve months and different set of questionnaires were administered. The data from the study were then analysed and presented in frequencies and percentages to test the validity of the information obtained from the respondents. It was found that uniformly designed directional signage enhanced the navigational ability of students and also reduce anxiety and fear in new students on campus trying to get to their destination. The conclusion was that a wellplanned wayfinding sign system that is in tandem with ISOTYPE principles and use standardized display fonts and adhered to appropriate principles and elements of design would guarantee optimal directional signage that would meet the needs of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in terms of wayfinding. The paper concludes by recommending that; the Ahmadu Bello University and other institutions of higher learning should adopt a universal design scheme for use on their school campuses.

Keywords: wayfinding, directional signage, destinations, prototyping and campuses