Issue Number 10

Wayfinding and Signage

Creating the Right Experience

There are a lot of things in life to which we pay scant attention, until they don't work the way they're supposed to. Wayfinding is a case in point. When we go to a library, museum, theatre, campus, retail store, or business, the only time we think about wayfinding is when it's confusing or nonexistent. Like so many things that seem simple but aren't, wayfinding is an unobtrusive guide. When it works, it's transparent. When it doesn't, it's the center of unwelcome attention.

Wayfinding is more than creating attractive signs. Effective wayfinding is a well-researched, well-engineered plan that anticipates directional needs, guides visitors to key destinations, aligns with your building's pathways, and strengthens your brand.

Take a walk through your building today — as a first-time visitor — and see what's working and what's not in your wayfinding plan. Use the six pointers here to see if your wayfinding and signage is a brand asset — or a detractor.

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