Clear Touch Media has been making custom signs for a long time in Ontario, and we’d love to share our knowledge with you. We will also discuss the different types of wayfinding signs and what they are used for.
What Is Wayfinding Signage and Why Is It Important?
As its name suggests, wayfinding signage helps you find your way around a business, institution and other places. It tells you how to get from one place to another and shows you how far along a route you are. This kind of sign is particularly useful for:
- Offices and medical structures like hospitals
- Malls, stores and car dealerships
- Educational and banking institutions
- Restaurants and bars
- Tourist spots
Wayfinding signage isn’t really a form of advertising or promotion, but it’s an important part of making a good impression for a company. Customers will feel comfortable in your building if the signs are clear and easy to understand. They will also feel more in control because they will be able to find what they need without having to ask for help.
There are 4 kinds of signs that help people find their way: identification, informational, directional and regulatory.
Identification
Identification signs are the most common type of sign which helps people find their way. With this kind of sign, your visitors will know when they’ve reached their destination in your building.
Here are a few examples of these kinds of signs:
- Signs that say where you are such as “Customer Service” or “Accounting”
- Signs that show where a historical marker or plaque is
Identification signs can also be used as general landmarks, such as a sign with your company’s name and logo that hangs on the wall behind the front desk and makes it clear which business you’re in.
These kinds of signs can be very helpful, especially in a large building where many different businesses or groups share the same space. Identification signs should be clear and easy to read so people can understand them quickly.
Informational
Informational signs are similar to identification signs, but they are usually more general and apply to a whole building. Informational signs should be put in places where a lot of people can see them like the lobby, waiting rooms and entrances.
When thinking about what types of informational signs your business needs, try to think about what kinds of questions people ask – and make sure your signs answer those questions clearly. For instance, your informational and directional signs should say:
- How to get to the bathroom
- When you open and close
- Your building’s address
- How to find the elevators and stairs
- Where the cafeteria and other places to eat are
Make sure the symbols and language you use on your informational signs are easy for everyone to understand at a glance.
Directional
Signs that point in the right direction will help your customers and visitors get where they want to go. Your signs should be clear enough (and put in the right place) so that it feels like an invisible tour guide is leading people to their destination.
These need to be put in places where there isn’t a clear flow of traffic (like when you get to a part of your building where you can go in more than one direction).
These types of effective directional signs include:
- A company directory which tells you which floor each person’s office is on
- Physical markers that tell you how far apart to stand, or even coloured lines on the floor
Regulatory
The last type of sign you should put up to help people find their way is regulatory. These are signs that tell people what they can and can’t do. You should make sure that your signs for rules and regulations are big, clear and to the point.
Clear Touch Media Wayfinding Signage Is a More Effective Way To Engage With Your Visitors
We make digital visual communication possible so you can promote, engage, and reach your audience in a way that is effective, interactive and emotional. Digital signs, walls, billboards, and interactive displays are all part of our digital display advertising services in Ontario.
Book a demo of our digital display and signage solutions today and see how they can help you. Visit cleartouchmedia.com online or call us in Toronto at (905) 362-2622 today.
Please call us and book a digital display advertising demo today.