What’s the first thing a customer or visitor feels when they arrive at your facility? In many cases, it’s probably uncertainty. If they’ve never been there before and don’t know the layout of the premises, if they’re unfamiliar with your company and services and don’t know whom to see, they're strangers in a strange land. Unless, they’re met by concise signage. You want to leave customers and clientele with a lasting first impression—but it shouldn’t be confusion
Lobby signs, wayfinding, directional signage, branding—these are all tools to identify locations, direct the flow of people, and make a visual statement about your company. Lobby signs do more than merely establish a place name. Psychologically, they endow your brand with both prominence and positioning, creating the perception of a stable company with permanence and reliability. Elements of an effective lobby sign are as varied as their application: Lobby signs can be simple or elaborate, inspired or purely functional, yet still enhance the aesthetics of the building’s interior.
Wayfinding signage is both a science and an art. The signs must provide your visitor an immediate “you-are-here” orientation, while also efficiently communicating where they need to go next and how to get there with both visual and verbal cues. This must be accomplished in a logical, uncluttered graphic, but must also be eye-catching and complement existing color schemes and architectural themes.
Directional signage speaks volumes at a glance. High visibility in design and positioning is vital. Easily read directories and universally recognizable symbols route visitors through the premises and facilitate traffic flow. Compliance with ADA standards is required on directional signage to make your building accessible to all.
Branding demands careful consistency in the presentation of established corporate brands in the signage of local branches or franchises. It also involves the creative process to help start-ups and entrepreneurs through the design and execution phase of a new visual brand. Incorporating existing logos into signage while enhancing visibility through the imaginative use of color and graphics are critical elements of branding.
A sign professional uses all these tools—lobby signs, wayfinding, directional signage, branding—and works hand-in-hand with clients to fulfill their needs in these areas. They can assist in formulating a budget and creating the look you want while staying within that budget. Sign professionals can formulate a single system for your whole project, or suggest site-specific solutions to adapt to your specific needs.
