Types of Wayfinding Signs Your Business Needs

12/1/2020

Directional signs for businesses should do more than just tell people where they are going!

A creative and professionally designed wayfinding sign should also represent your business and seamlessly tie in with the colors, textures, and patterns of your space. Effective directional signage will complement your architectural and interior design.

As people arrive at your location, you will want to make sure each area is properly identified. Your directional signs should be visible, intuitive, and include important information to help visitors easily navigate your business. With poor commercial wayfinding signage, you can generate confusion or even safety issues for people visiting your site.

Designing a good wayfinding system is crucial for any location. It doesn’t matter what type of industry your business is in. Corporate wayfinding and directional signs play an important role in coordinating the foot traffic of employees, customers, and visitors everywhere. Directional signs are also important for ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and efficient parking at your location.  

There are many different types of wayfinding signs your business may need. Exterior directional signage includes everything from the entrance or window signs to parking and traffic signage. Indoor directional signage can be anything from reception signs, directory signs, to wall or ceiling graphics. We’ve put together this list with some of the most common types of wayfinding signs your business needs.

1. Entrance signs

Entrance signs are very important; they help guide visitors into your building. Entrance signs for business can be simple and straight-to-the-point, or they can be branded and include additional information to help welcome visitors. An entrance sign can be a stand-alone post sign, a custom plate, or it can be a vinyl graphic on your front door. Depending on the type of business you are in, customized entrance signage can help you enhance the first impression you make for new clients.

2. Bathroom Signage

Every business has restrooms. Whether they are only for employees or open to the public, bathrooms should be easily identifiable. Bathroom signs can be very simple, but if you are looking for signage that can substantially help complement and improve the overall look of your business choose a custom-designed restroom sign. A custom lit bathroom sign can even become a statement piece of decoration for your walls.

3. Directory Signs

Depending on the size of your building, office or store, you may need a digital directory sign to help people navigate your location. A custom directory sign can become a reference point for people inside your location. You can use this type of sign to display the number or location of different offices, the names or room number for employees, or the different areas in the building.

4. A-frame signs

These signs are also known in the signage industry as sandwich boards. As a type of portable wayfinding signage, A-frame signs are very convenient for businesses. You have probably seen them on sidewalks as you walk by different businesses, and restaurants often use them frequently to display their daily specials. These signs can also be placed inside or outside of your business to guide visitors. 

5. Parking Signs

Having a designated parking area for your visitors is important. If you share your parking lot area with other businesses, you can use custom parking signs to specify the parking spots that belong to your business. Parking signs can also be used to identify specific areas of access to your business, or they can be customized to designate specific parking spots in your lot.

6. Compliant Braille Signs  

Certain businesses are required to include tactile braille signs for their visitors per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The purpose of these signs is to help blind and visually impaired people find their way around your building. Knowing if your business is required to have this type of sign before you order custom signage can help you save some money.  An experienced sign maker will be able to help you understand the options you have when it comes to ADA compliance.

7. Room identifiers 

If your business has many rooms, it is recommended to identify each one with a different name. This will be very helpful for visitors and employees to navigate the building. There are many different styles to choose from, but the important thing to keep in mind is you want your signage to represent your brand and match your interior design.

8. Safety Signs

Safety signs are found everywhere and are often necessary to make sure your business is compliant with fire and safety guidelines. Depending on the type of business you have, you may need customized safety signs to help identify certain areas and hazards in your location.

9. Regulatory Signs

Regulatory signs help businesses enforce or show compliance for local or federal laws. For example, a regulatory and safety sign informs customers of the company's accessible entries and exits in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Regulatory signs may also remind employees to wash their hands after using the restroom, as ordered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Regulatory signs are often found in bathrooms, outside of businesses, and in company breakrooms.

10. COVID-19 Signage

COVID-19 safety signs help businesses protect the health of their customers and employees. Social distancing signs remind people to stay at least six feet apart in a business, and health and hygiene signs promote hand washing, sanitation practices, and mask wearing. In addition to promoting safety measures, COVID-19 signs can help businesses improve the flow of traffic through their store. 

For more information on custom commercial wayfinding signs, you can rely on the experts at Signs Now®.

In most buildings and offices, a missing sign or a misplaced sign can lead to confusion. To make sure you have enough wayfinding signage or to ensure the directional sign is placed in the right location, we offer expert site assessment. We have an array of high quality Directory and Wayfinding Signs for all applications and budgets. And if you’re looking for a portable sign, we also offer A-Frame Wayfinding Signs. We invite you to learn more about what Signs Now can do for you. To get started, contact us today.

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