Wayfinding signage helps people get where they are going without asking for directions. From the entrance to the parking lot to the right office on the third floor, a clear wayfinding system makes a building easier and less stressful to use, and makes a good impression on every visitor. The Sign Factory plans, designs, fabricates and installs wayfinding signage for offices, campuses, healthcare facilities and industrial sites in Charlotte, NC and nationwide.
The Parts of a Wayfinding System
- Exterior directional signs: post and panel signs that guide drivers to parking, entrances and deliveries.
- Building and entrance identification: signs that confirm people have reached the right building or door.
- Directories: lobby and floor directories that list tenants, departments and suites. See the types of office building directory signs.
- Directional signs: wall-mounted, hanging and projecting signs at hallway intersections and elevators.
- Room identification: ADA-compliant room, suite and restroom signs with raised characters and Braille.
- Floor and wall graphics: painted-on looks, color bands and floor markings that lead people along a route.
Planning Comes First
Good wayfinding starts with how people move through the space, not with the signs. We walk the site or review your floor plans, note every decision point where someone has to choose a direction, and decide what each person needs to know at that spot. Naming must match everywhere: if a department is called one thing on the directory, it must be called the same thing on the door. The result is a sign schedule that lists every sign, its message and its location. Read does your company have a wayfinding signage strategy.
Design and Materials
Wayfinding signs should match your brand and your interior so they feel like part of the building. We design a family of signs in consistent colors, typefaces and materials, from acrylic and metal to printed graphics, with arrows and lettering sized for the distance people read them from. Read about the types of architectural wayfinding signs.
Wayfinding Projects
- Logistics Plus: strategic wayfinding across the company's Rock Hill, SC facility, alongside building signage, glass graphics and a lobby sign.
- Valtech: directional and wayfinding signs and suite signage built to the company's brand guidelines.
- McLeod Centers for Wellbeing: directional and wayfinding signage at all eight North Carolina locations.
Wayfinding for Every Type of Site
Large sites need wayfinding most. Business parks and campuses need exterior directional signs between buildings. Healthcare facilities need clear routes for patients and visitors. Industrial sites need signs that separate visitors, trucks and staff. Office buildings need directories and suite signs that can be updated as tenants change.
Exterior Wayfinding
Wayfinding starts before people leave their cars. Visitors need to find the right driveway, the right parking area and the right entrance, and delivery drivers need a separate route to the dock. Clear building numbers, directional signs at every intersection and an obvious main entrance make the arrival easy and keep traffic moving on large sites.
Common Wayfinding Mistakes
- Too much information: a sign that lists everything is read by no one. Show only what people need at that point.
- Inconsistent names: calling the same place by two names on two signs confuses visitors.
- Missing decision points: one missing sign at a hallway intersection can undo the rest of the system.
- Small lettering: signs sized for a desk are too small to read down a corridor.
Read wayfinding signage mistakes to avoid.
Wayfinding Signage FAQ
Can wayfinding signs be updated when tenants or departments change?
Yes. We design directories and suite signs with changeable inserts or panels so names can be updated without replacing the whole sign.
Do wayfinding signs need to meet the ADA?
Room identification signs need raised characters and Braille. Directional and overhead signs do not, but they still have rules for character size, contrast and mounting height. We design every sign to the 2010 ADA Standards.
Do you install wayfinding signs at several sites?
We are based in Charlotte, NC and install nationwide through our network of more than 300 installation partners.
How long does a wayfinding project take?
Planning and design come first, then fabrication and installation. A small office can be done in a few weeks, while a large campus is often installed in phases.
Plan Your Wayfinding
Send us your site plan or floor plans and we will recommend a wayfinding system for your building. Call 704-321-0040 or request a quote.