What is wayfinding signage, and what are the rules when creating them?
A guide to creating wayfinding signage.
Even with the wide use of smartphones and wayfinding apps, people still rely on good wayfinding signage for a variety of different reasons. For example – your phone probably won’t guide you to the loo at a theme park.
Wayfinding signage is more than just a few arrows pointing to the nearest convenience, and creating good wayfinding signage that not only functions well but also adds to the surroundings, isn’t so straightforward. Continue reading this short article to learn how to make great wayfinding signage. If you’d rather hire a professional to do it, contact your local and reputable signage specialist.
What is wayfinding signage?
As the name suggests, wayfinding signage is signage that helps visitors to your commercial premises safely and easily find their way around. It helps to create a better customer experience, as well as helping to control crowds in festival-type events, zoos and theme parks.
Sounds simple, but wayfinding signage can also be divided into various types, including:
Identification signage – This type of wayfinding signage is about helping visitors identify where they are.
Regulatory signage – Regulatory wayfinding signage is there to provide information such as danger areas or staff routes etc.
Directional signage – This type of wayfinding signage is to guide visitors from one area to the next, using the quickest and safest route.
Rules to create great wayfinding signage
In the following section, we’ve outlined some of the key rules to remember when designing and locating your wayfinding signage.
Make wayfinding signs stand out
When designing your wayfinding signs, make sure they stand out from other signs and don’t simply blend in with other types of signs, especially if the sign is located in a busy area with lots of other signage.
Place wayfinding signs in easy-to-see places
When positioning your wayfinding signage, make sure it’s in a prominent place where your intended audience will see it, and that it’s not blocked by trees, buildings or positioned too low for the average person to see.
Make decision points stand out
A decision point is a point in a visitor's journey where they need to know their choices, and how near they are to their destination, so make sure these signs are clearly stated and provide the (easy-to-read) information required.
Add landmarks to your wayfinding signs
By adding simplistic yet unmistakable images of specific landmarks to your wayfinding signage, you allow visitors to make quick decisions at a glance, therefore reducing the time spent at the sign and the number of people hanging around.
Conclusion
When designing your wayfinding signs, take all the rules mentioned into consideration, but above all, keep your wayfinding signage designs simple, so there’s no risk of overwhelming or frustrating your visitors or your staff.
Contact us
If you’re looking for a signage specialist to create and install your internal signage, including office signs, reception signage, glass signage for office use, or any other internal signage or external signage, contact Future Signs and Graphics Ltd. today.