Ole Edward Wattne
About
Information and interaction design
University lecturer and PhD candidate
Education:
MA Information design, University of Reading
BA (Hons) Graphic Information Design, University of Westminster
Intermediate subject history of ideas, University of Oslo
Work:
From 2006 I have been employed as a university lecturer at NTNU in Gjøvik (formerly the University College in Gjøvik) where I have taught the following subjects:
- Information graphics
- Multichannel publishing
- Information architecture
- IDG3950 - Wayfinding Systems
I have also supervised a number of student projects at bachelor's level as well as master's theses on our two master's programs Master in interaction design and Master in industrial design.
My professional interests can be summarized in the following keywords:
Navigation and wayfinding systems, navigation and wayfinding behaviours and strategies, Information design, interaction design, information graphics, information architecture, wayfinding and sign systems, user experience, user-centred method, concept development, graphic design, typography and text, design method, design teaching and pedagogy, formative-iterative tuition in creative processes.
My professional reading list on Goodreads.
I am also a graphic designer and editor for the art book publisher FAKIR forlag.
Research
I am on a partial leave as a PhD candidate where I am doing research in the field of wayfinding design and wayfinding systems. This is the title and abstract of my PhD project:
Wayfinding in the outdoors: User behaviours, preferences, unique features and overlaps with wayfinding in other contexts
Abstract
This thesis is an investigation into knowledge construction pertaining to design for wayfinding in the outdoors, and with a special focus on wayfinding tasks, behaviours, strategies, tactics and moves. The thesis examines the role of different behaviours, tools and experiences when finding the way outdoors in a variety of environments and with a variable presence of man-made objects and stimuli, ranging from urban to natural settings. By employing the following research methods: Literature reviews, questionnaire surveys, interviews, observations, and document analysis it contributes to the construction of background and user-knowledge relevant for designing wayfinding systems for use in the outdoors. The knowledge contribution from this thesis is agnostic to output of modalities and information carriers for proposed wayfinding systems; being traditional signage and markings or more contemporary digital user interfaces or integrations between such modalities. By focusing on human behaviours and choices in wayfinding situations we contribute to knowledge that is relevant for human-centred design proposals for wayfinding systems in the outdoors, and to establishing research-based descriptions and terminology of such behaviours and approaches. The research conducted for this thesis addresses a specific knowledge gap concerned with user behaviours when temporary lost in outdoors environment. Furthermore, the research also identifies similarities for wayfinding across contexts with variable presence of man-made objects in the environments at hand.
In 2021–2023, I led NTNU, Department of Design's work package (WP6) in the Horizont 2020 EU-project rurAllure. The work package was titled: "Ethnographic heritage on the ways to Trondheim". The main purpose of the rurAllure project was development and promotion of sustainable tourism based on cultural heritage resources along the European pilgrimage routes. The project has three pillars: Networking, competence sharing and development of a common digital platform (for planning and implementing journeys along the routes).
Publications
2025
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2025)
Wayfinding behaviours in natural environments.
Journal of navigation
Academic article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Aandalen, Linda Therese;
Jansson, Mattias.
(2025)
Wayfinding and navigation behaviours among pilgrim tourists on the St. Olav Ways in Norway.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Academic article
2024
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2024)
Waylosing and wayfinding in the outdoors.
Royal Institute of Navigation: Navigation News
Abstract
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2024)
Waylosing and wayfinding in the outdoors: a typology of wayfinding approaches to problem-solving when temporarily lost.
Journal of navigation
Academic article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2024)
Death by GPS:
Ut på tur i høstferien? Ikke stol på telefonen din.
Feature article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Kurdøl, Egil Martin.
(2024)
Plakat: KWK Debris.
Visual Arts
2023
-
Volden, Frode Strand;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2023)
Wayfinding and Navigation in the Outdoors: Quantitative and Data Driven Development of Personas and Requirements for Wayfinding in Nature.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2023)
Kunstbok: Debris (trilogi).
Visual Arts
2021
-
Nielsen, Brita Fladvad;
Ringsø, Torill;
Torkildsby, Anne Britt;
Bjerck, Mari;
Høiseth, Marikken;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Ønsker ikke NTNU at fremtidens campus skal være for alle studenter og ansatte?.
www.universitetsavisa.no
Reader opinion piece
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Kan pilegrimer bidra til stedsutvikling?.
Feature article
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Kunstbok: flere steder for alltid | more places forever.
Visual Arts
2020
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode.
(2020)
Design er en god idé.
Feature article
2016
-
Wattne, Ole E..
(2016)
God design viser vei.
Feature article
2014
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Kraabøl, Jan Erik;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
BIMBLEBOX: ART-SCIENCE-NATURE.
Musical performance
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
Bokdesign av Egil Martin Kurøl: ABSOLUTTE ROM.
Visual Arts
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
Grafisk design av plateomslag for Run Dog Run: Bent to happen, Voices of Wonder records VOW192LP.
Visual Arts
2011
-
Wattne, Ole E..
(2011)
Clickable text – text as user interface.
University of Reading, Department of Typography & Graphic Communication
University of Reading, Department of Typography & Graphic Communication
Masters thesis
2009
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2009)
KONSTANTVARIABEL – EN BOK.
Visual Arts
Journal publications
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2025)
Wayfinding behaviours in natural environments.
Journal of navigation
Academic article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Aandalen, Linda Therese;
Jansson, Mattias.
(2025)
Wayfinding and navigation behaviours among pilgrim tourists on the St. Olav Ways in Norway.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Academic article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2024)
Waylosing and wayfinding in the outdoors.
Royal Institute of Navigation: Navigation News
Abstract
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2024)
Waylosing and wayfinding in the outdoors: a typology of wayfinding approaches to problem-solving when temporarily lost.
Journal of navigation
Academic article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode Strand.
(2024)
Death by GPS:
Ut på tur i høstferien? Ikke stol på telefonen din.
Feature article
-
Nielsen, Brita Fladvad;
Ringsø, Torill;
Torkildsby, Anne Britt;
Bjerck, Mari;
Høiseth, Marikken;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Ønsker ikke NTNU at fremtidens campus skal være for alle studenter og ansatte?.
www.universitetsavisa.no
Reader opinion piece
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Kan pilegrimer bidra til stedsutvikling?.
Feature article
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Volden, Frode.
(2020)
Design er en god idé.
Feature article
-
Wattne, Ole E..
(2016)
God design viser vei.
Feature article
Artistic productions
-
Wattne, Ole Edward;
Kurdøl, Egil Martin.
(2024)
Plakat: KWK Debris.
Visual Arts
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2023)
Kunstbok: Debris (trilogi).
Visual Arts
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2021)
Kunstbok: flere steder for alltid | more places forever.
Visual Arts
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Kraabøl, Jan Erik;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
BIMBLEBOX: ART-SCIENCE-NATURE.
Musical performance
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
Bokdesign av Egil Martin Kurøl: ABSOLUTTE ROM.
Visual Arts
-
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2014)
Grafisk design av plateomslag for Run Dog Run: Bent to happen, Voices of Wonder records VOW192LP.
Visual Arts
-
Kurdøl, Egil Martin;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2009)
KONSTANTVARIABEL – EN BOK.
Visual Arts
Part of book/report
-
Volden, Frode Strand;
Wattne, Ole Edward.
(2023)
Wayfinding and Navigation in the Outdoors: Quantitative and Data Driven Development of Personas and Requirements for Wayfinding in Nature.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
Wattne, Ole E..
(2011)
Clickable text – text as user interface.
University of Reading, Department of Typography & Graphic Communication
University of Reading, Department of Typography & Graphic Communication
Masters thesis
Teaching
Courses
Outreach
2025
-
LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2025) Orientering og desorientering utendørs:Atferd blant mennesker som har mistet og funnet veien. Turledermøte 15.09.2025 , Lillehammer 2025-09-14 -
-
Academic lectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2025) Outdoors waylosing and -finding: The behaviours of people who have lost and found their way in the outdoors in Norway. Royal Institute of Navigation talk , Online webinar 2025-01-22 - 2025-01-22
2024
-
Academic lecturePapachristos, Eleftherios; Eike, Schneiders; Wattne, Ole Edward. (2024) Adapting Cultural Heritage Narratives: GPT’s Potential in Tailoring Heritage Content for Diverse Audiences. Interactive Storytelling for Communities, Heritage and Public Engagement , Uppsala 2024-10-13 - 2024-10-13
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LectureWattne, Ole Edward; Nielsen, Brita Fladvad. (2024) Crisis communication scenarios: People and technology. An international class and an open class in Social Sciences and Humanitarian Action , Lisbon 2024-10-29 - 2024-10-29
-
Interview
-
InterviewWattne, Ole Edward. (2024) NRK P2 Nyhetsmorgen: Ikke stol på Google maps. Norge Norge [Radio] 2024-10-01
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Academic lectureWattne, Ole Edward; Papachristos, Eleftherios. (2024) The long and narrow locality: creating local narratives along pilgrim paths. Interactive Storytelling for Communities, Heritage and Public Engagement , Uppsala 2024-10-13 - 2024-10-16
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Academic lectureWattne, Ole Edward; Aandalen, Linda Therese. (2024) Wayfinding and navigation behaviours, strategies and tactics among pilgrim tourists on the St. Olav ways in Norway. 35th International Geographical Congress , Dublin, Irland 2024-08-24 - 2024-08-30
-
LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2024) WP6-pilot: Ethnographic heritage along Gudbrandsdalsleden. EU-review , Brüssel 2024-03-18 - 2024-03-18
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Academic lectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2024) rurAllure: Kulturarv langs pilegrimsleder i Europa – noen resultater og erfaringer. Nasjonal pilegrimskonferanse 2024 , Trondheim 2024-03-14 - 2024-03-15
2023
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LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2023) rurAllure-prosjektet: Promotering av kulturarv langs de europeiske pilegrimsledene. Forskningsdagene: En dråpe forskning , Gjøvik 2023-09-21 - 2023-09-21
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LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2023) rurAllure-prosjektet: Kulturarv og stedsutvikling langs de europeiske pilegrimsledene. Nasjonal pilegrimskonferanse , Trondheim 2023-03-16 - 2023-03-17
2021
-
LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2021) rurAllure-prosjektet: Kan pilegrimer bidra til stedsutvikling?. Kultur over Grenser , Lillestrøm 2021-10-27 - 2021-10-28
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LectureWattne, Ole Edward. (2021) Functional colours: Colour in information design. Forum Farge , Webinar 2021-03-18 - 2021-03-18