We believe that many organizations often overlook the importance of directional signs when it is certainly something that can make or break a visitor’s experience.
At Minoh, we provide wayfinding signage solutions to clients across various industries. In this article, we are sharing some tips to help you create the perfect wayfinding system.
Give Me a K.I.S.S
K.I.S.S, an acronym for Keep It Simple, Stupid is a popular design principle. The principle states that most systems perform the best when they are kept simple to avoid complications and confusion.
Clarity is crucial for wayfinding systems. The design should focus on readability and information being presented in a short and sweet manner. It is recommended to keep your wayfinding signs easy to understand and avoid unnecessary, frivolous elements to create a clear visual space.
Consistency is important for the overall experience and it is also important to ensure that all the signs have the same design. Use the same colours, shapes, fonts, and symbols consistently so that when people see them, they’ll understand immediately that they are wayfinding signs.
Each Location Has Its Own Identity
A good wayfinding system helps one to successfully move the bits of information from their current location to the final destination. They must, at all times be able to easily understand the information and can confidently answer the questions, “Where am I right now?” and “Which direction am I facing?”
A good utility is to give each location a unique identity so that people can easily identify their current location by associating with their immediate surroundings. Helping a visitor to quickly recover their position is a core wayfinding principle.
Well-Structured Paths Are Often Forgotten
For paths to be considered “well structured”, they must have a certain set of characteristics. The number 1 quality of a structured path is that it leads you to the destination, without you getting lost in the middle. The signs should easily and thoughtlessly guide the navigator between points. Users must be able to determine the distance to their destination and measure their progress as they move.
Well-structured paths and signs remove confusion and give visitors control over the process by displaying the right information, at the right time, at the right place.
Let's Get Creative!
Signs being simple and user-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean that directional signs must be boring or dry. You can increase the effectiveness of your signs by involving a little creativity. To make the most of your investment, you can show off your brand’s personality by integrating the staple designs that represent your organization’s brand like colour, font or logo.
No matter how small or large the area you have is, directional signs and wall graphics can be seamlessly incorporated into any space.
Limit Choices
Another good attribute for wayfinding signs is to avoid giving a lot of choices to the visitor. It will often lead to confusion. This is particularly important for hospitals where visitors are already stressed out and too many choices can add to their anxiety.
While there can be multiple options to get from point A to point B, the wayfinding signs should only show 1, maximum 2, routes. Limiting choices not only prevents confusion, it allows them to place themselves in relation to their surroundings faster.
Test it out
To gauge the effectiveness and usefulness of your wayfinding signs, it’s important to walk the route yourself before visitors do. This will help you see which routes are well defined and which are confusing. Ensure the clarity of your maps before revealing them to the public.
Physical Accessibility is also an important aspect that is often neglected. Ensure that visitors using a wheelchair can easily see and read any signs in your space.
Wayfinding Signs With Minoh:
At Minoh inc, we provide wayfinding signage solutions to organizations that include shopping centres, commercial building, healthcare facilities, and more. Contact us for more information. Let's Talk!