Visitors often arrive at a medical or professional office with other things on their minds. They may be worried about an appointment, unfamiliar with the property, or running short of time. When the correct building, entrance, or suite is difficult to find, frustration begins before they ever speak to a member of staff.
Good wayfinding signs remove uncertainty. They guide people from the road to the parking area, through the correct entrance, and onward to the proper office.
Follow the Visitor’s Actual Journey
Wayfinding planning should not begin at the reception desk. It should begin at the nearest road.
A visitor may need to identify the property from traffic, choose between two driveways, find the right building, locate suitable parking, and determine which entrance to use. Each point where someone must make a choice is a possible location for a sign.
Walking or driving the route as a first time visitor can reveal confusing areas that regular staff members no longer notice.
Use Signs to Answer One Question at a Time
A directional sign should provide the information needed at that particular location. Trying to place every department, tenant, and instruction on one panel usually makes the sign harder to read.
At the property entrance, visitors may only need the building name and an arrow. Inside the building, a directory can provide suite information. Additional wall signs can then guide people through corridors or toward elevators.
Short wording, clear lettering, and adequate contrast usually work better than a complicated design.
Keep Names Consistent Throughout the Property
Confusion develops when a business uses one name on the monument sign, another on the building directory, and an abbreviated version beside the office door.
The same tenant, department, or building name should appear consistently throughout the route. Room numbers and arrows should also follow a predictable system.
If several tenants have changed, updating all affected directories and directional signs together can prevent old information from remaining in less obvious parts of the property.
Coordinate Exterior and Interior Signs
Wayfinding signs do not all need to look identical, but they should feel as though they belong to the same property. Repeated colors, lettering styles, materials, and shapes can create a visual connection from the monument sign to the lobby and individual offices.
A coordinated system also gives a professional building a more finished appearance. Visitors may not consciously notice every design choice, but they notice when signs look temporary or unrelated.
Consider Visibility for Every Visitor
Letter size, mounting height, glare, lighting, and viewing distance all affect whether a sign can be used comfortably. Interior signs should be positioned where visitors naturally look for information and should not disappear against a similarly colored wall.
Accessibility requirements may also affect the design and placement of certain permanent interior signs. Working with an experienced sign company helps businesses plan signs that are both attractive and practical.
Plan Your Office Sign System With Western Signs and Lighting
Western Signs and Lighting creates exterior signs, lobby signs, office signs, directories, and directional signs for commercial properties across Phoenix, Mesa, and surrounding communities.
Call 480 831 8600 to discuss a coordinated sign system for your medical office, professional building, or commercial property.
References for Post Three
United States Access Board, Chapter 7: Signs
https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-7-signs/
International Sign Association, Identification of Sign Types
https://signs.org/resources-training/signs101/identification-of-sign-types/
United States Access Board, Accessible Parking Signs
https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-5-parking/
Western Signs Is A Local Sign Design & Installation Company In Phoenix
Our sign installation services have been created for customers all over the State of Arizona Including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Tempe & Glendale. Receive a free commercial signage quote anywhere in the Phoenix Valley by giving us a call today at (480) 831-8600.
