Engaging with Wayfinding

Maybe not all who wander are lost, but that intern on their first day of work, wandering the halls in search of the coffeemaker definitely is. Businesses, both large and small should make sure everyone is able to easily navigate their location. Wayfinding is vital to helping the observer perceive and mentally organize the environment. Quality wayfinding improves your visitors’ experience, safety, and productivity. Give your traffic flow a boost by improving the wayfinding in your space through engaging wayfinding. Here are a few tactics you may use to engage your visitors with your wayfinding signage.

Gamify your Wayfinding.

People have a hard time resisting entertaining brands, so give your business a “one-up” by gamifying your wayfindingsignage. People are more likely to remember and follow directions if they’re engaged in wayfinding signs. A major element in games is the idea of progression. When you play a game, you “level up”– in other words, you move on to the next level. This same concept of progression is a way to gamify wayfinding signage. Keep in mind you don’t have to have multiple floors, just a a way you want visitors to flow. Let’s say that entering your space is the first level of a gamified building. Signage at this first level should be bright and attractive. The instructions at this level are very basic. Once someone has entered and passed the first level, they progress to level two. For this level, you use different colors to indicate a different level and can give more in-depth instructions because the person has progressed. Avoid a “GAME OVER” and choose a designer who understands how to use simple tactics to gamify wayfinding signage.

Color-Code your Wayfinding.

Colors trigger the sensory receptors in our brains resulting in our ability to differentiate our environment. That’s why using colors in wayfinding is so effective. Consider for example, the parking garage that uses different colors for each floor. When parking in a “red zone,” it is easy to identify whether you are on the right floor when leaving if the signage to the parking garage is also red. Take this concept and apply it to your space, and consider using different colored signage to represent different departments, floors or zones.

Use Maps in your Wayfinding.

Every explorer needs a map. Visitors to your location can venture out on their own self-guided tours by following the directions shown on the strategically placed maps in and around your facility. Strategic locations are any points where a person may decide between paths to take. Entrances, hallway intersections, bathrooms, elevators and stairs are examples of places of decision. For the best results, follow these basic tenets for your maps:

• Make it intuitive
  If your maps use clear language and are consistent with symbols, your visitors will not have to decipher the map’s meaning.
• Make it relevant
  Only give information that is relevant and specific to the space and path.
• Brand outside the lines
  Provide a clear visual by keeping your branding out of the way of navigation information.

Wayfinding signage can transform new employees and visitors into experts at navigating your space. Help wandering lost souls to find their way (not to mention the coffeemaker) by strategically positioning engaging signage that improves the overall experience of a visit to your location.