Make Directions Work Without a Map

Write a route that survives missing images and small screens.

The reading problem

Write a route that survives missing images and small screens.

A concrete example

“Meet by the red pin” is useless if the map fails to load. A neighbourhood meeting note can name the building, entrance, floor, and a recognizable sign in text.

Try this edit

Read directions aloud without looking at a map. Include the starting point and each decision point. Keep landmarks as extra help, not the only way to identify the destination.

Proof on the page

Replace “red pin” with a route such as “Enter from Oak Street, use the door beside the noticeboard, then take the lift to floor two.” Put each turn in the order encountered. A small map can remain as a supplement, but the text should work when images are blocked or printed without colour. Test it on a phone with the image hidden.

Where the method stops

Landmarks can disappear or look different at night. Do not rely on a temporary poster, colour alone, or a route you have not checked. If step-free access differs from the main route, ask the venue for confirmed directions and present both routes plainly rather than guessing.

One final check

If the route contains a locked door, state the hours and who can open it. A technically correct turn-by-turn route is not useful when access is unavailable.

Primary reading

These W3C sources inform the general method; they do not certify this guide or your document.