Printable Quest Guide
Teens Free Mall Wayfinding Symbol Scavenger
Explore a mall as a public-design puzzle by finding symbols, maps, and directions that help people navigate, then score which ones are easiest to understand.
- Time
- 1 Hour
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- Teens
- Location
- Mall
Your Mission
Discover how public spaces help people find their way through a free, design-minded teen scavenger hunt.
What You'll Need
- Notebook or notes app
- Pencil
- A list of symbol prompts
- Optional reusable scorecard
How to Do the Quest
- 1
Meet with a trusted adult's permission and choose a public mall area with a clear meeting point.
- 2
Look for navigation symbols such as elevators, restrooms, exits, directories, seating, or accessible entrances without entering staff-only spaces.
- 3
Mark each symbol as clear, confusing, or missing based on its shape, placement, and contrast.
- 4
Use the mall directory to solve one simple route challenge, such as finding the nearest restroom from a public entrance.
- 5
Do not photograph strangers or store interiors where signs prohibit it; sketches and written notes work well.
- 6
Compare scores over a snack-free break area or after leaving, then vote for the most helpful symbol.
Quest Challenge
Can your group find five symbols that help a first-time visitor without spending money?
Pro Tip
Good wayfinding is often invisible until you imagine arriving somewhere for the first time; that perspective makes the hunt more interesting.
Quest Complete
What would you repeat, change, or remember from Teens Free Mall Wayfinding Symbol Scavenger?