This type of signage spans from reception signs to complex maps for large spaces. Businesses that experience high volumes of footfall particularly benefit from wayfinding and directional signage to ease the flow of visitors. Essentially, your signage needs to answer two questions for your visitors: ‘Where am I?’ and ‘Where am I going?’ Once these questions have been quickly and easily answered then your visitors will feel comfortable and confident moving around the space, whether that be inside a building or around external premises.

Wayfinding signage at LivingCare

What are the top four benefits of wayfinding and directional signage? 1. Letting people know where to go Simply, wayfinding and directional signage tells people where they need to go and how to get there. Nearly all businesses and companies require some form of wayfinding and directional solutions, whether that be a building with multiple offices, a hospital or doctors surgery with different departments, a university campus or a shop with a concealed entrance. 2. Customer familiarity When visiting shops and restaurants customers want to feel at ease and confident in their purchasing journey. How people engage with spaces has become increasingly important; when visiting a new place a functional wayfinding system is the perfect solution to help visitors make the most of their experience. 3. Extending your brand It is a common misconception that wayfinding and directional signage can be unsightly and placed as an afterthought, however this is not the case. New signage can be carefully and thoughtfully incorporated into your existing branding, creating a succinct message with an eye-catching design while still offering accurate, easy to follow guides. 4. Health and Safety Wayfinding and directional signage is essential for Health and Safety. For concerts and festivals with large crowds accurate signage helps people disperse safely and quickly. For industrial areas directional signage helps to distinguish pedestrian areas and helps direct drivers. Wayfinding signage: signposting interior spaces

Digital wayfinding signage in retail

Interior wayfinding systems can be identified in almost any business, helping people navigate buildings and office spaces. Wayfinding signage is extremely important in the retail and hospitality industry, creating part of the consumer experience. The customer journey should not be underestimated in importance; everything from the music to the simplicity of moving around a space can impact how a person feels within your business and their likelihood to make a purchase. There are several options for wayfinding within retail and hospitality but one of the most popular choices is digital signage. Interactive and changeable screens can be effective in this environment with touch screens enhancing the ‘self-service’ aspect of the journey. Digital signage can also serve multiple purposes, allowing interchangeable screens with offers, special announcements and menu information. For educational or office buildings a variety of monolith signs, window graphics and wall coverings can be used to make the area vibrant and motivational while also including wayfinding elements. In environments where people are out of their comfort zone such as students starting at university or someone attending an interview, wayfinding signage can ease any unrest they may feel, safely guiding them through the premises. In doctors surgeries and hospitals wayfinding signage can help to ease any anxiousness of the experience. A common wayfinding technique in these environments is floor graphics, where visitors can physically follow a track leading to their location. Directional signage: navigating external areas

Directional sign at Coldharbour

Directional signage helps pedestrians and drivers navigate external spaces. In public places directional signage can greatly help the flow of pedestrians and traffic by easily guiding people where they need to go. Whether it’s road signs, finger post signs or monolith signs fixed to the ground, directional signage is the ideal visual solution for pointing people in the right direction. For industrial, manufacturing and construction companies directional solutions are essential for the efficient running of operations. Signage can help separate pedestrian walkways, signposting where goods in and out is, as well as identifying the location of the office and where vehicles should park. An important aspect of directional signage is its ability to be illuminated, an essential feature for businesses operating 24 hours a day. Navigating to success Wayfinding and directional signage is complex, with many things having to be considered. This starts with simple questions such as how large the sign needs to be and the easiest font to read, to using the right type of sign and design. The importance of wayfinding and directional signage should not be underestimated and should be considered in all sectors. Contact your local Signs Express centre to discuss your wayfinding solutions, so we can help navigate you to success.