We cannot hide the fact that today’s marketplace is saturated with similar products and services. This can make it difficult for any business to stand out. However, one of the best ways to make a difference is through customer experience.
Creating a memorable experience can leave a lasting impression on your customers. This starts with a space where they feel safe and comfortable. One thing that factors into that is wayfinding signs.
These signs make it possible for people to confidently find their way around your space. They provide valuable directions that prevent people from having to run around in circles. Elevate your customer’s experience with your business with these custom wayfinding signs.
Directional Interior Wayfinding Signage
These signs perform the basic function of providing directions. They display clear and concise instructions that guide customers toward specific locations. Directional signs use arrows, symbols, and written directions. These point people toward entrances, restrooms, customer service desks, and more.
In a retail store or office building, directional signs are often the first thing a visitor looks for after walking through the door, which is why placement at eye level near entrances and major intersections in a floor plan matters as much as the wording on the sign itself.
Informational Wayfinding and Directory Signage
These signs make sure customers have all the essential information they need. Often, you can see informational signs that display maps, directories, and the like. They highlight key areas or points of interest within your establishment. For multi-tenant buildings, dedicated directory signage is often the single most-used wayfinding element in the lobby. Having essential information readily available is a terrific way to enhance the customer’s experience.
Identification Signs
Wayfinding identification signs indicate specific rooms, offices, or facilities. They are usually used to display room names, numbers, and even specific designations. This makes it easier for people to find who or what they’re looking for.
These types of custom wayfinding signs are necessary, especially for larger buildings or spaces. Clear and visible identification signs let you avoid customers getting confused or frustrated.
ADA-Compliant Interior Wayfinding Signage
Building an accessible business space is crucial for a positive customer experience. ADA-compliant wayfinding signs ensure that the visually impaired can navigate your space freely.
These signs need to follow strict design guidelines for compliance. For instance, they need raised letters, contrasting colors, and braille. The presence of these signs allows all customers to navigate your space freely.
Regulatory Wayfinding Signs
Regulatory signs communicate rules and safety requirements rather than directions. Fire exit signs, occupancy limits, no-entry notices, and emergency evacuation routes all fall into this category, and most local fire and building codes require them regardless of a business’s size or industry.
These signs typically follow strict color and symbol standards set by fire codes and OSHA guidelines, so they should be treated as a compliance requirement first and a design choice second. Pairing regulatory signage with the rest of a wayfinding system keeps a space looking cohesive instead of like an afterthought bolted on for an inspection.
Outdoor Wayfinding Signs
It is common knowledge that wayfinding signs are used indoors. However, wayfinding and directory signage are equally important outdoors. They make it possible for customers to easily locate your business.
Customers who cannot find a store or office tend to just transfer to another location. This is a wasted opportunity to generate leads and make a sale. For this reason, wayfinding signs are necessary when you want to drive more traffic to your business.
Digital and QR-Enabled Wayfinding
Traditional signs are being paired more often with QR codes and digital directories that link to an interactive floor map on a visitor’s phone. This is especially useful in larger buildings, hospitals, and multi-tenant complexes where a static sign can’t list every destination without becoming cluttered.
A hybrid approach, physical signs for the main paths and a QR code for detailed or frequently changing information, gives a business the reliability of traditional signage without needing to replace it every time a tenant or department changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of wayfinding signs?
Most wayfinding systems use four core types: directional signs, informational and directory signs, identification signs, and regulatory signs. Larger or more complex properties often add outdoor and digital wayfinding on top of these.
Are wayfinding signs required by law?
Regulatory and ADA-compliant wayfinding signs are often required by local building and fire codes, particularly for exits, occupancy limits, and accessibility. Directional and informational signs are not legally required in most cases, but they are strongly recommended for customer experience.
What is the difference between wayfinding signs and directional signs?
Directional signs are one category within a wayfinding system. Wayfinding is the broader strategy of guiding people through a space, while directional signs are the specific signs that point the way using arrows, symbols, and text.
How do I choose the right wayfinding signs for my business?
Start with a walk-through of your space from a first-time visitor’s perspective, note every point where someone might hesitate or ask for directions, and match sign type to each of those points, informational at entrances, directional at intersections, identification at destinations, and regulatory wherever code requires it.
Your Trusted Wayfinding Signage Company
Let your business stand out by giving customers the best experience. Make your business easy and safe to navigate with high-quality wayfinding signs today.
Street Style Sign Studio is a full-service wayfinding signage company. We design, produce, and install a wide selection of sign options for your business. We create wayfinding signs made with acrylic, metal, wood, vinyl, and more.
Give us a call today to know more about interior wayfinding signage and get a free quote.