Top Wayfinding Mistakes Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them
Wayfinding is crucial in every sector, whether retail space, office building, hospital, or campus. Implementing signage and visual cues helps people navigate a space effortlessly without any confusion.
Smart wayfinding design consultants ensure seamless navigation in various environments, but many businesses don’t understand the importance of having an effective wayfinding system.
This results in confused customers who become frustrated and leave, leading firms to lose customers and opportunities. Here are some of the top wayfinding mistakes businesses make and how you can avoid them:
Clutter and Complex Signs
Businesses that strive for excessive creativity in their signage often opt for overly intricate or cluttered designs, making them challenging to comprehend within their wayfinding systems. While wayfinding aims to provide smooth navigation, such mistakes tend to confuse the visitor rather than give clear directions.
Businesses can avoid this mistake by using readable fonts and universally recognized symbols to make their wayfinding signs simple and easy to understand to help avoid such mistakes. Also, stick to a common color palette that is eye-catching and matches your business’s aesthetic.
Not Considering User Experience
A common mistake is not considering user experience due to solely focusing on aesthetics. Wayfinding systems that fail to acknowledge how individuals navigate a place can lead to frustration, leaving them feeling lost and confused.
One can avoid it by first analyzing the traffic patterns and predicting where people might need help in directions. Think about placing the signs at maximum visibility and at such locations that may be difficult for visitors to locate. Try user testing to confirm that the signs are easy to follow from a visitor’s perspective.
Ignoring the Needs of Disabled Visitors
Neglecting accessibility is a significant error. If the wayfinding system does not accommodate people with disabilities, they may struggle to move around and navigate through an environment.
To prevent this, consider making it essential for your signage system to be accessible to all users. Include braille, tactile signs, and high contrast colors for the visually impaired individuals. Additionally, consider the needs of those users with mobility impairments by ensuring they are provided with clear paths and directions to elevators, ramps, and accessible entrances.
Failing to Maintain Signage Over Time
Signage can deteriorate, get dirty, or become outdated over time. Failing to maintain your wayfinding systems may result in a poor user experience, damaging the brand’s reputation.
To fix this, set up a regular maintenance schedule to keep your signs in top condition and prevent customers from complaining. This should involve cleaning, replacing damaged signs, and checking that all the information is accurate.
Poor Signage Placement
Signs placed too high, too low, or in cluttered places frequently go unnoticed. Many businesses forget to place signs at important locations like intersections or entryways, which can be confusing.
A simple solution is strategically placing signage at eye level and important navigation spots, such as entrances, hallways, staircases, and elevator lobbies. Conducting a walkthrough of your space from a visitor’s viewpoint can help identify the best placement.
Lack of Proper Emergency Signage
Poor emergency signage can pose a high risk to visitors in critical situations. If fire exits, evacuation paths or safety equipment locations are not marked clearly, panic and delays can result.
One can prevent this by creating proper, visible emergency signage with easy-to-remember icons. Emergency exits should be easy to locate from any part of your facility, which helps prevent panic during a critical incident.
Conclusion
A professional wayfinding consultancy provides a thoughtfully designed and user-centric navigation system.
Expert consultants analyze visitor behavior, optimize signage placement, and create a strategy that aligns with your business goals.
Keystone Sign Studio is a leading wayfinding and signage design consultant specializing in creating intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing wayfinding systems.
Contact us today to arrange a consultation and take the first step toward a smarter, more efficient wayfinding system!
