Wayfinding Signage 101

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Well-placed and professionally designed wayfinding signage is an integral component to enhancing your customer’s experience in brick-and-mortar establishments. As a consumer, you’ve likely benefitted from exterior and interior wayfinding signage. Think about your last visit to a large, multistory medical complex. More than likely, you found your doctor’s or dentist’s office from a variety of signage such as elevator directories and exterior signs pointing you in the right direction. Using wayfinding signs is so important that the town of West Hartford, Connecticut is soliciting locals’ opinions in a large-scale survey to ensure that their latest signage project considers the community’s needs.

Businesses and organizations of all kinds can benefit from interior and exterior wayfinding signage including medical offices, legal practices, retail stores, and restaurants.

Exterior Wayfinding Signage

Strategically placing signage outside of your organization or business can make visits to your establishment much easier for the public. You can use exterior signs to designate specific parking areas and direct visitors to their appropriate destinations. If your business or organization utilizes multiple entrances and/or buildings, having appropriate signage is a necessity.

Bear in mind that exterior wayfinding signage should be made of materials that can withstand varying weather conditions including precipitation and wind. The signage pros at Pel Hughes can help you design your signs as well as select durable materials for long-term use.

Interior Wayfinding Signage

You might be surprised to learn how helpful interior wayfinding signs can be for your business. Interior signs can identify important areas like emergency exits, dressing rooms, and restrooms. If your visitors require an elevator or stairway to reach your business, signs placed at entrances to these areas can make a world of difference for your clients and customers. The core reason that wayfinding signs are needed is to make navigating your business as easy as possible.

Tips for Effective and Inclusive Wayfinding Signs

When designing your signage, it is important to keep inclusivity and accessibility in mind. You may have visitors who have visual impairments or speak another language. Inclusive and accessible wayfinding signs send a clear message: that your business seeks to accommodate all people. The following are some helpful tips for developing great wayfinding signs.

  • Use symbols. Utilizing symbols helps those who speak other languages as well as those who are vision impaired. Universal symbols are also beneficial to those driving through parking lots and entrances as symbols take less time to interpret than reading words.
  • Choose highly visible areas for signage. Your interior and exterior signs should be high enough off the ground so that most people can see them at or near eye level. The areas surrounding signs should be clutter-free—especially when outdoors. Overgrown trees and shrubs can quickly render your signage ineffective.
  • Include braille on interior signs—particularly for important areas like restrooms and emergency exits.
  • Whenever possible, keep your signage in line with your brand. Choose similar color schemes and font families to maintain cohesiveness.

How Pel Hughes Can Help

Pel Hughes is a one-stop shop for all your printing needs, including signage. We offer world class technology and personalized client service to help your business or organization thrive. Our experts can help you design signage that maintains a cohesive brand identity while providing valuable information to your clientele. If you have questions about our services or would like to request a quote, give our friendly experts a call at (504) 486-8646.