In response to recent Canadian legislation and social discussions addressing instances of exclusion encountered by sexual-minority individuals who do not conform to conventional gender norms, Toronto-based environmental graphic design (EGD) firm Entro Communications has assisted the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Group in developing a new standard for appropriate signage for ‘universal’ washrooms (specifically, single-use facilities, where a lockable room contains a single toilet and sink) in health-care facilities. The design challenge was to improve upon the common pictograms currently used for washroom signage, so as to set a precedent that would accurately represent an inclusive environment, while requiring little explanation.
近来，为了回应加拿大新的立法，针对不符合传统性别规范的少数群体遇到的排斥情况，多伦多环境图形设计公司Entro Communications协助加拿大标准协会，为保健设施中的普遍洗手间（特别是一次性使用的设施）制定了一种具有包容性的标识导视系统，这个举措目的是改进目前用于洗手间标牌的常规象形图，以便为群众设定一个具有包容性的环境，得到人权的享有。
Given the focus of Entro’s work with wayfinding sign systems on how people experience public spaces and assets, the company was well-positioned to take an active role in helping the industry strategically shift such assets and related services to become more accessible and inclusive. The company and CSA’s combined efforts with respect to health-care facilities have since been shared with the Public Service of Canada, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), 3M Canada and IBM, among other organizations seeking ways to make their own spaces more inclusive for all individuals.
鉴于Entro公司对于公共空间系统方面的设定，以及如何帮助人们获得更好的公共空间体验方面都非常在行，他们有能力发挥积极作用，来帮助标识行业将这些资产和相关服务进行战略性布局。经过该公司和CSA公司在卫生保健设施方面的共同努力下，已经与加拿大公共服务部、加拿大皇家银行、3M集团加拿大公司和IBM以及其他组织，共同搭建了一个平台，寻求一种让空间更具包容性的方式。
The standard covers best practices, including the accommodation of Canadians’ rights to gender identity and expression, clear designations for accessibility and effective language and nomenclature. Entro began to receive questions from clients who also wanted to incorporate the needs and preferences of a wider community into their signage, but wondered which would be the right pictogram to use and how it would fit in with other accessibility and directional pictograms, as well as with overall environmental branding.
这项标识导视系统涵盖的内容较为广泛，包括加拿大人对性别认同和表达的权利、明确的无障碍指标，以及有效的语言和术语等。 Entro公司开始收到客户对他们反映的问题，他们希望将更为广泛的社会需求融合到这个项目中。
To devise further sign design recommendations and help address confusion in the broader design sector, Entro collaborated with its industry partners and clients, but particularly with Marni Panas, senior diversity and inclusion advisor for Alberta Health Services and a recognized advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) issues in Edmonton, who has been deeply involved with CSA in its standard for health-care facilities. The goal was to learn more about organizational challenges, the many options that have surfaced and the communities most affected by existing washroom signage.
为了进一步制定标识，减轻设计部门的复杂工作，确定好设计方案，Entro公司开始与行业合作伙伴合作，特别是与艾伯塔省卫生服务部包容性顾问Marni Panas合作，Marni Panas是女同性恋和双性恋者的倡导者。除外之外，他们的目标是更多地了解以往的案例，对过去出现的问题进行研究和探讨，整理出对现有洗手间标牌影响最有益的方案。
“Our number one priority was talking to the experts—meaning those who have personal experiences with non-inclusive signage,” says Wayne McCutcheon, Entro’s partner in charge.
Entro的负责人Wayne McCutcheon说：“我们的首要任务是与专业人员进行交谈，因为他们在这类标识制作方面有一定的经验。”
Steps toward inclusivity
步入包容性
With respect to wayfinding signage, four principal scenarios exist for washrooms:
关于洗手间主要有四种场景类型：
1.
Single-use washrooms, with a single toilet and sink in a lockable room.
一个洗手间，一个厕所和一个可锁定的房间。
2.
Multi-stall washrooms with urinals, which have traditionally been designated for male users.
为男性用户指定的小便器洗手间。
3.
Multi-stall washrooms without urinals, which have traditionally been designated for female users.
为女性用户指定的多排厕所。
4.
Other multi-use facilities with individually enclosed toilet stalls and a common sink area.
其他多用途设施，单独封闭的马桶位和水槽区域。
For the purposes of its recommendations, Entro addressed best practices and a signage standard in response to the first of these scenarios. . In many cases, after all, single-stall washrooms already exist within a facility; the public is simply being made more aware of their availability.
Entro公司针对不同情况提出了最佳做法和标准，进行了很多讨论，最终，解决方案包含以上选项，为公众提供人性化的空间环境。
These washrooms are providing valuable opportunities for public discourse and education about inclusivity and acceptance. School boards, for example, are proudly announcing their commitment to ensuring the availability of inclusive washrooms, while other groups have made statements about their political stance on the issue. It is important, however, to take steps in the right direction by being well-informed. Many organizations are using pictograms that either reintroduce binary gender norms or refer explicitly to the inclusion of transgender individuals, rather than to universal inclusivity.
关于这个项目，社会开展了一些有关对性别方面包容性和接受度的公开话题。例如，学校董事会承诺确保为学生建立具有包容性的洗手间标识导视系统，而其他团体就这一问题发表了政治立场。经过这一阶段后，大家开始了解要建立具有包容性的标识导视系统，需要采取正确的方向，与群众进行交互。此外，许多组织在重新制作象形图时，也重新引入了二进制性别规范。
“These organizations have great intentions, but need to thoroughly review their solutions and make sure they are reflecting the needs of their community,” says Panas.
Panas说：“即使这些组织相应政府的号召，也需要彻底审查他们的解决方案，确保它们能真正的反映群众的需求。”
The broader context
广泛的背景
Bill C-16, An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, was introduced in Parliament on May 17, 2016. This year, it passed a vote in the Senate and received royal assent, paving the way for it to become law. It will add “gender expression or identity” as a protected ground to the Canadian Human Rights Act and to existing provisions in the Criminal Code that deal with hate propaganda, incitement to genocide and aggravating factors in sentencing.
“加拿大人权法”和“刑法典”修正案于2016年5月17日在议会上提交。今年，它在参议院又通过了一项投票，并获得了皇家同意，为这个项目铺平了道路，它将性别或身份作为受“加拿大人权法”保护的部分，来推动项目的实施，让法律效益真正润泽于群众。
The goal of the law is to ensure all Canadians can identify and express their gender without suffering from discrimination. Most of the provinces and territories have already updated their human rights legislation to include such protection and similar legislation has been at the forefront of social developments around the world.
法律的目的是确保所有加拿大人能不受性别歧视。大多数省份和地方已经更新了这项人权立法，这种关于人权保护的法律在世界上的立法中是较为先进的。
This is not the first time washrooms have been a focus of political debate, nor the first time graphic design has helped to solve social and political challenges. At the root of this subject is the messaging used on signage, including both wording and pictograms. While some people may assume the nature of an image on a washroom door or directional sign is not important or does not have much effect, sign designers know pictograms are actually powerful tools with respect to people’s cognitive systems. The choice of words and symbols helps define the way a society communicates.
这个项目不是第一次成为社会辩论的焦点，它是有助于解决社会问题的。虽然有些人可能认为应用在洗手间上图像的内容不重要或没有太大的影响，但是，标识行业的专业人员知道象形图实际上是帮助人们认知系统的强大工具，因为标识的应用有助于改变社会交流的方式。
“Signage is powerful,” says McCutcheon at Entro. “We know that very well, as we work in this industry, but those outside of it may not understand how it can affect people psychologically. We have the ability to influence our clients’ decisions at key points in the design process. While we were already recommending inclusive washroom signage, we felt it was crucial to get the same information out to other organizations that could benefit from it, as well as the public.”
McCutcheon说：“当我们在这个行业工作的时候，我们能看到市场发展的趋势，也清楚地明白为公众打造一个具有包容性的环境是一件非常有益的事情，虽然我们知道这件事很好，但并行业外的人并不一定能体会到这个点，因此，我们需要在设计过程的关键点上，来影响客户的决策，将我们的的理念来传达给其他组织以及公众。”
With this intent, Entro put forward a series of guiding principles for the transition to inclusive washroom signage.
为此，Entro提出了一系列向包容性洗手间标牌过渡的指导原则。
Focusing on service, not identity
专注于服务，而不是身份
Visiting a single-use washroom is no different from partaking
in any other common public services and, therefore, does not require gender identification on the door.
一次性洗手间与其他普通公共的服务并无区别，因此不需要在门口进行性别鉴别。
Signage should not emphasize the person walking through the door, but rather focus on the service that person is seeking to use.
值得注意的是，标识导视系统该侧重于为正在寻路的人服务。
Keeping communication clear
保持清晰的可读性
Following this same principle of simplicity further, it is best to include only the elements that are needed to convey a message. This is especially true for individuals who cannot read the local language and/or are vision-impaired.
要最好的传达标识的内容和信息，需要遵循简单的原理，对所需的元素进行基本处理，还要考虑不能阅读本地语言或有视力障碍的人。
As past experience with sign design shows, to be understood quickly and easily, pictograms need to be easily distinguishable from their background and surroundings and contain as little detail as possible. Following this principle, Entro recommended a sign featuring the word ‘washroom,’ the toilet pictogram and—where applicable with respect to physical accessibility—the already well-
established wheelchair pictogram. This is where simplicity is particularly beneficial to design, as multiple pieces of necessary information can be conveyed without overcrowding the sign. Navigation is made easier when individuals can quickly identify (a) the service and (b) their ability to access it.
根据过去设计标识的经验来看，标识的内容要使群众能够快速、轻松地理解，象形图需要与背景和周围环境容易区分，此外，标识的设计要尽可能的减少复杂的细节。要把握好这几个原则，Entro公司推出了一种标识——轮椅象形图，图形的内容包含洗手间一词，象形图和适用的物理辅助功能相匹配，这种简单性设计传达出了多条必要的信息。当群众能够快速识别这种服务时，标识导航就变得有价值了。
Paying attention to detail
注意细节
While simplicity is key, attention to detail is also important. Along with language and pictograms, this attention can be signalled through the choice of sign materials.
标识所显示内容的清晰易读是关键，但细节的方面同样重要。除了语言和象形图以外，还可以通过选择标识材料来展现意图。
In the current period of uncertainty and confusion relating to inclusive washrooms, many organizations have understandably implemented temporary signs as they transition to more universal designs. While this is a commendable step forward, a more permanent response, representing greater effort to ensuring the right signage is in place, signals a higher level of care for the public.
在为公共洗手间建立一套标识导视系统的过渡阶段，许多组织先是实施普遍的临时标识计划，虽然这是一个值得赞扬的一步举措，但想要建立永久而实用的一套系统，就要确保每个标识放置到合理的位置，从需求和行为上，更高层次的关心公众的利益。
Thus, the production of permanent signs for inclusive washrooms should become a priority and be undertaken in a timely manner. And by making sure such details as the pictogram, font, colours and materials fit well with the branding of the surrounding building or organization, a commitment is indicated to the provision of truly inclusive services.
因此，为洗手间建立永久性标识应成为了政府工作的优先事项，应及时进行。通过确保象形图、标识字体、颜色和材料等各种细节，与周围的建筑物或品牌形象相适应，来提供真正的包容性服务。
Ultimately, all signs should look professional and be installed with clear intention, representing the efforts behind them.
最终安装完的所有标识看起来都是非常专业可靠的，并且有明确的导视性，所有的成果都代表了标识专业人员背后的努力与付出。
Wide applicability and consistency
广泛性和适用性一致
The issue of inclusive washroom signage has often been portrayed in the media and in political discussions as relevant only to members of the LGBTQ community and, more specifically, people who are transgender—yet it actually affects everyone.
在建立具有包容性的洗手间标识导视系统时，出现的问题经常在媒体和政治讨论中露面，更具体地说，对于社会的每一个人，甚至是跨性别者都息息相关。
The right design can change the experience of anyone who feels excluded by existing washroom situations. One example is when a parent of one gender needs to accompany their child of another gender. This has been a common issue with public washroom access and use for many decades, but recent attention to inclusive washrooms can be of benefit in resolving it.
正确的设计可以为群众带来最有效的便捷。举个例子，当一个母亲需要陪儿子去洗手间时，这会出现不必要的尴尬情况，虽然这是很常见的问题，但是会给别人带来不便，所以，这种具有包容性的洗手间可以有效解决这个问题。
Indeed, anyone should be able to walk into a hospital or other public venue and know they will not encounter non-inclusive services or signage. With this in mind, it is essential for standards to be created for everyone, so the same signs will be used across all types of facilities, fostering familiarity and allowing individuals who require inclusive washrooms to locate them easily.
事实上，任何人都会进入公共场所，那么，不应该让非包容性标识出现在公共场所中，给群众带来不便。考虑到这一点，相同的标识将被用于不同类型的设施中，为群众提供熟悉的环境氛围，帮助他们容易找到洗手间。
Organizational education
组织教育
In recognizing there will be a transitional phase for the adoption of such signage, there is a need for education to help shift societal perceptions. Individuals within an organization, including staff, volunteers and patrons, should be given adequate information and resources so they understand the context and the benefits. This will be important not only in explaining why the change is happening, but also—in terms of wayfinding—in encouraging them to provide assistance in the future to any visitors who are looking for inclusive washrooms.
那么，这样的标识制作将会有一个过渡阶段，需要通过一系列的教育来帮助转变社会的观念。 因此，政府应向组织内的个人，包括工作人员、志愿者和群众提供充足的信息和资源，以便帮助他们了解情况，这项标识导视系统能为他们带来什么益处。
The importance of inclusive design
包容性设计的重要性
As exemplified in the new recommendations
for inclusive washroom signage, it will be the responsibility of artists, designers, communicators and other members of the sign design community to recognize societal changes and reflect them in the public assets they create.
针对在新的包容性洗手间标识的建立，艺术家、设计师、传播者和标识行业的专业人员都有责任，对新的标识导视系统提出观点和建议，将社会变化并将其反映在这种公共资产中。
In this case, rather than specifically focusing on individuals who do not conform to conventional gender roles, gender was taken entirely out of the equation for sign design; the purpose was not to highlight differences, but rather to create a system that does not rely on such differences. One of the aims was to set a precedent with a new standard that (a) is more representative of an inclusive environment, but (b) requires little explanation.
在这种情况下，性别不再是针对传统角色的划分，而是将性别从符号设计的方程式中完全被排除，这种设计的目的不是突出差异，而是将差异模糊。这就是这项标识导视系统的其中一个目标，为公众提供一种具有包容性的环境。
Companies and other organizations can only more forward on such issues when they have research, recommendations and information drawn from the communities that are most affected. As such, it is important for the sign industry to include these voices and take their experiences into consideration when designing public signage for clients.
公司和其他组织在研究来自受影响最大的社区提供的信息，他非常重视这些信息，因此，在为客户设计和制作标识前必须要考虑群众的需求和心声，并考虑以往的经验。
“We can’t ignore our understanding of the larger issue at hand,” says Entro’s McCutcheon, “or the impact signage has on everyone who uses it.”
Entro公司的McCutcheon说：“有时候，我们不能忽视我们的竞争对手所出现的问题，因为这对于所以制作标识的人来说可能都会出现此问题，都会有影响。”
CSA and Entro’s efforts are part of a larger movement to shift the understanding of inclusivity from a convenience to a fundamental human right—and they are already having an effect.
在CSA公司和Entro公司的共同努力下，将群众普通理解的包容性转变为基本人权的一部分，为群众服务，带来了更为人性化的生活环境，最令我们惊讶的是，这些具有包容性标识导视系统已经产生了重要的影响。
“Recently, one of the hospitals here in Edmonton reached out, saying they had read about the standard and were going to use the signage that was recommended,” says Panas.
Panas说：“近来，埃德蒙顿的一家医院非常认可，并将使用他们所推荐的这种具有包容性的标识导视系统。”
In such ways, changes in mainstream public communications and behaviour can result directly from new, evidence-based design recommendations.
在这种方式下，标识导视系统可以直接引导公共交流和行为的变化。
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