Are you talking about wayfinding as in how people navigate large spaces like malls, airports, and also through urban spaces?

Both have been written about extensively - do a bit of a search. Interior wayfinding is a major point of focus for signage / graphics designers and interior design for large public spaces. Color, lighting, materials, graphics and signs are all important aspects of this. Also the organizational concept for the spaces - a series of spaces opening to a central atrium are easier to navigate than a jumble of spaces connected by corridors. I don't actually think reflections, shade or shadow are effective techniques for orienting users, since these qualities change depending on time, season and weather.

What are you trying to do with this information? There are books on the subject which you should look for if you're trying to study this.

Thing is, the way-finding solution should be purely architectural. With no use of color, or signage system. Patterns and quality of spaces should lead you to where you want to go.  Maybe certain distribution of shadow will form a line you can follow, etc.  It's not about the signage system which proved to be not so effective.  The way we preserve spaces is more powerful than that.

If you're talking about wayfinding in the more poetic sense of creating an architectural experience, maybe signs aren't appropriate. Though OMA and many others have developed a signage-language that's embedded into the architecture and often quite entertaining. Even without signage color and material are still relevant - and more dependable than shadows.

For understanding space purely through architecture the most important aspect of the design would be spatial organization. Atriums and spaces that collect natural light focus the visitor's attention and are essential. Clear views of the outside also help people understand their relative location as they move through space.

I have no idea what you mean when you say signage has proved not to be effective. Bad signage won't fix bad design, but good signage is essential to functional public buildings.

Reflections seem to provide the opposite of clear wayfinding. A house of mirrors is confusing precisely because there is so much reflection.

Acoustics can be useful for wayfinding. A big noisy central space can be perceived throughout connecting corridors. Or outdoor waterfalls can draw your attention out from an interior space.

Thanks a lot for your input.

Yes, that's the assignment we have. Way-finding in a way that's never been done before, incorporated within the design but not literal. No use of words, letters, colors, etc. Purely poetic sense, through quality of spaces, predicting human behavior and cognitive mapping. It could be a pattern on the inside of walls, leading the users down a certain path, or making them assume there is an exit at a certain approaching point.

Also, I was wondering if you can think of any case studies.

you know picking some case studies is really the fun part - find some projects you personally appreciate and study what works well about them.

A couple of my favourites that have interesting architectural appoaches to user orientation:

OMA Kunsthall in Rotterdam, Netherlands

SANAA Glass Museum in Toledo, Ohio (actually any of SANAA's big projects is interesting for spatial organization)

UN Studio Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart

for an old classic Wright's Guggenheim in New York

These examples are all museums, since wayfinding makes me think of big public spaces. But you could also look into private houses or other types of cultural spaces where the spatial   organization is essential to the way finding.

sounds fun, good luck

Yes, the assignment is to re-design a public library, that is quite big.

Thanks again.

Way-finding Concepts to appreciate the minute the beautiful things in our lives, reflections most valuable; and continue to appreciate, grateful, shade all the best in our lives for perfect results.

Programming and planning spaces, transitions etc so people don't get lost and there is a natural and logical transition from one space to another. (aka wayfinding) Isn't this what architecture is about, beside the construction of structure and materials?  That's where you  get creative and use your imagination.

Since when is colour not architectural?

^ It never is for the color challenged. :D