When was the most recent instance you depended on a sign work to lead you to an event, a medical facility, or even your unfamiliar residence?
While signage holds significance for people exploring cities or novel places, well-crafted wayfinding signs help people navigate spaces like office complexes, apartment structures, and medical centers. These visual or tactile pathways not only save time but also reduce stress and enhance clarity.
The most successful wayfinding signages used by your company should seamlessly embody your brand’s identity. Be it an inventive design reflecting your organization’s distinct and enjoyable essence or innovative solutions showcasing your proficiency, wayfinding substantially affects how people perceive your enterprise.
In this article, we will discuss wayfinding signage, focusing on directional signage and how businesses can create accessible and legally compliant sign works without compromising on design.
Understanding Wayfinding Signage
Wayfinding signage serves as the means through which people navigate a given space or orient themselves within a physical setting. It also provides solutions to the common questions such as:
- Where exactly am I?
- Am I in close proximity to my intended destination?
- What path did I take to arrive here?
- How do I reach my desired location?
At its core, wayfinding signage centers on navigation, yet it also has the potential to introduce a brand’s distinct voice, contribute to storytelling, and evoke the sentiments of its visitors. This form of signage can be seamlessly integrated into a strategy to enhance a more robust user experience for various organizations. In today’s modern landscape, user experience and user-friendliness reign supreme.
Types Of Wayfinding Signage
Identification Signs
These signs offer specific information about a location, such as street addresses, office numbers, door plaques, and donor acknowledgments.
Directional Signs
Designed as invisible guiding hands, directional signage leads individuals step by step from their current location to their desired destination. They are especially useful at intersections and areas with unclear traffic flow.
Informational Signs
Providing details about the surroundings, these signs offer information about amenities, business hours, potential hazards, significant features of the location, and other relevant spatial information.
Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signage imparts safety information and enforces rules within the environment. This includes traffic signs like “don’t walk” or “stop,” ensuring safety and adherence to regulations.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Signage
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law aimed at preventing discrimination against individuals with disabilities. ADA signage is mandated in particular areas and for identifying specific rooms/spaces within businesses.
To meet ADA compliance, these signs must adhere to precise design criteria and be positioned at specified heights and locations. This ensures a consistent, universally accessible design standard. This way, people with disabilities can confidently locate essential facilities in any public setting, regardless of their location.
In addition to well-known areas like restrooms, elevators, exits, and emergency exits, ADA signs serve as identification markers for permanent rooms, spaces, and features and provide directional guidance. Areas that undergo frequent changes, such as conference rooms or classrooms, are exceptions and typically do not require ADA signage.
ADA Signage Requirements
- Signs should exhibit high contrast, with light-on-dark or dark-on-light color schemes.
- Utilize large, simple fonts without embellishments for improved legibility.
- Braille and tactile lettering must adhere to specific guidelines for character size and spacing.
- Bathroom and entrance signs should be positioned adjacent to the respective door.
- The International Symbol of Access signs must conform precisely to the official symbol, including signs used for accessible parking spaces.
- Use sans serif fonts, known for their readability, in compliance with ADA standards.
- Tactile characters should be positioned such that the lowest character or line measures 48 inches from the floor and the highest character’s base is no more than 60 inches from the floor.
Key Principles For Effective Directional Signage
- Ensure legibility by using clear fonts, high-contrast colors, and straightforward language for easy comprehension.
- Keep messages concise, particularly in bustling or swift-paced settings where quick glances are the norm.
- Maintain uniform branding across locations. Employ consistent colors, shapes, or design elements to enhance recognition and association with wayfinding.
Tips For Attractive And Compliant Directional Signage
Blend Fun With Practicality
While functionality is at the core of wayfinding systems, users still prefer a straightforward journey. But just because it’s functional doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Some instances include:
- Simple, effective floor-projected arrows, when paired with additional signage, enhance shopping experiences by guiding customers seamlessly.
- Utilizing color psychology, a network of color-coded paths directs visitors through distinct building areas, ensuring focus and engagement.
- Branded photos and unique images reflect your company’s essence, offering brief introductions to team members and establishing a personal touch.
- Themed wayfinding signage adds allure to directional systems, reiterating your organization’s identity—much like a movie experience.
Use Simple Symbols
Effective wayfinding combines symbols and text perfectly to guide visitors with ease. For instance, finding a restroom involves recognizing well-known symbols like those for baby changing stations.
Simplify Decision Points
When setting up your wayfinding signs, remember that less can be more effective. Overloading with signs doesn’t prevent confusion; in fact, it can make things worse. Focus on the crucial ‘decision points,’ like entrances, exits, stairwells, and elevators, where visitors need direction.
Seize Branding Opportunities
Wayfinding signs do more than guide–they can amplify your visual identity. In certain contexts, they reflect what sets your organization apart, not just guiding from ‘A to B.’
Stylish And Compliant Sign Works With Sievers Creative
While not the most thrilling aspect of branding, wayfinding often takes a back seat when companies seek signage partners for their campaigns. Yet, when effectively employed, a strategic wayfinding approach can serve as a roadmap to success.
Sievers Creative creates stylish and ADA-compliant wayfinding sign works that represent your brand. We listen to your needs to ensure the sign matches your message and values. We handle everything from start to finish, providing top-quality results. Our Sign Studio helps you leave a strong impression and stand out. Contact us at 651 300 4932 today!
