7 Considerations for Wayfinding Signage
Wayfinding signage is important to help people navigate larger areas. This includes locations such as:
- Hospitals
- Malls
- Amusement parks
- Grocery stores
- Airports
- Hotels
- Convention centers
First-time visitors aren’t going to know their way around these establishments and will quickly become frustrated if they are unable to figure out where to go. Wayfinding signage is the best way to provide necessary information to help your guests find their destination.
But it’s not as easy as simply hanging up a map of your facility. There are multiple considerations that will either help or hinder the effectiveness of your wayfinding signage.
So what should you consider while designing and hanging your wayfinding signage to best help your guests?
Here are 7 things you should keep in mind for wayfinding signage:
- Make Wayfinding Signage Easy to Read
- Keep It Clean
- Hang at an Appropriate Height
- Include Visuals When Appropriate
- Consider the Lighting
- Connect the Signs
- Keep It Consistent
1. Make Wayfinding Signage Easy to Read
Wayfinding signage needs to be quickly identifiable. People are often in a hurry and don’t want to spend a lot of time trying to decode a convoluted sign.
This can be accomplished with large letters set in contrast to the background. Black letters, for instance, over a white background will be easy to discern from a distance.
Wayfinding signage that is easy to read will be the most helpful. This helps accomplish the main goal of these signs — to direct people where they need to go.
2. Keep It Clean
Busy signs with too much clutter will also make a sign more difficult to read. Remember, people are trying to get the information as fast as possible, so don’t overload your wayfinding signage with unnecessary graphics or text.
These signs should be straightforward. Include the potential destinations and the easiest explanation of their location.
Uncluttered signs will provide clear direction and best help your guests find what they are looking for.
Check out the latest wayfinding signage for hotels
3. Hang at an Appropriate Height
Consider the vantage point of a person in need of your wayfinding signs. Are they going to be far away? Will they be near the sign? The placement of your signage will greatly affect how legible the sign will be, and how easy it is for your guests to find.
Take grocery store aisle signs, for example. These are generally hung from the ceiling with bold letters explaining the items in that particular aisle. This placement is beneficial because it can be read from a distance and provides clear direction as to where the listed items are located.
4. Include Visuals When Appropriate
Visuals can be a great help in explaining the location of certain items. Recognizable icons such as the restroom symbol can make your signage even more clear.
These standard symbols communicate the location of a destination even faster than text. Plus, it can convey a message despite any potential language barriers.
Other visuals such as arrows are a great way to direct guests toward destinations without any confusion.
5. Consider the Lighting
Even the clearest signs won’t be effective if they aren”t properly lit. This needs to be taken into consideration when finding a proper location for wayfinding signage.
Is there an existing light fixture that will illuminate your sign and make it easier to read? If not, a new fixture might need to be installed. Outdoor wayfinding signs probably won’t need additional lighting unless your business is open at night.
6. Connect the Signs
Effective wayfinding signs should work in tandem with one another. One sign should lead to the next until the customer has reached their intended destination.
These signs are generally straightforward without room for nuance. This straightforwardness makes it more difficult to direct a person to a specific place without redirecting them a couple times.
A chain of easy-to-read signs will be able to communicate the twists and turns in a path toward the destination.
7. Keep It Consistent
Locations like airports are going to have a variety of signs. It’s important to keep your wayfinding signage consistent in order to make them easy to pick out from the crowd.
Use the same color scheme, typeface, and visuals throughout all of your wayfinding signs. This makes it much easier for your guests to discern between different types of signs.
Identity Group Can Help Design Effective Wayfinding Signage
Your business is unique. Direct competitors within your industry don’t have the same brand identity, offerings, or goals as you. And this singularity needs to be expressed through every aspect of your customer-facing considerations.
Identity Group can help find the perfect wayfinding signage for your individual business. We’ve been trusted by top-tier companies all over the country to provide beautiful and effective signs. Let us show you what we can do.