Believe it or not, you know all about wayfinding signage.  You probably even know what makes good wayfinding signage. You just may not have ever known what it was called or why you find given signage awesome and others terrible.  In this two part series we’ll explain what it is and design principles to make it great.  Let’s get started!

What is Wayfinding Signage?

Wayfinding signage can help you find your way around a business, institution, or some other physical location.  Ideally, it should help customers feel comfortable, empowered, confident, and reassured.  They aren’t in a position of having to ask for help (especially if there might not be anyone around to help them).  Many places benefit from wayfinding, but some of the obvious ones include:

• Office buildings

• Educational institutions

• Hospitals and medical buildings

• Tourist attractions

• Financial institutions

• Restaurants

• Bars

• Malls

• Retail outlets

• Car dealerships

What Kinds of Wayfinding Signage Are There?

Some people have different categories or names for these, but the four we think of are identification, information, directions, regulations.

Identification

This is the most common kind of wayfinding sign.  It indicates you have arrived at your destination.  Examples include:

• Door plaques

• Departments (Customer Service, Sales, etc.)

• Landmarks

Another one we love to see when we do site visits is the one behind the reception desk on a wall.  We love seeing the way companies have identified themselves (and sometimes, what we can do better).

Information

These are more general than identification signage.  Think of the answers to:

• Where are the bathrooms?

• Where is the elevator (or where are the stairs)?

• What are the hours of operation?

• What’s the address?

• What’s the wifi information?

On that last one, staff who get asked that question multiple times a day will be so happy you got them a sign!

Directions

We know you normally have GPS outside of buildings, but inside and around buildings, that’s what directional signage is for!  These are most important at intersections where the traffic flow isn’t clear.  Think of:

• Business directories with suite numbers (and accompanying signage)

• Signs showing you where to turn

• Colored lines on the wall or floor

If customers tell you that they had difficulty finding you, that means your wayfinding signage isn’t good enough, period.

This kind of signage is also helpful near the road.

Regulations

These are aimed at the safety of your visitors and/or liability concerns.  They include:

• No pets allowed (booooo!)

• No smoking

• Caution! (giant electrical currents nearby that can kill you)

• Employees only

You may have created your own regulatory signage back in the day when you wrote out the “no boys/no girls allowed” signage for your bedrooms. :-)

To Review

Putting it all together, identification and informational signage tells you where to go.  You follow directional signage to get there.  On the way, make sure to obey the regulatory signage (it’s there to keep you — and others — safe).

Got it?  Now that we know what wayfinding signage is, in our next article in this series we’ll give you the scoop on the design principles we use to create the best wayfinding signage for our customers.