Outdoor building signs and plaques serve as key visual identifiers, helping businesses establish their presence and communicate essential information.

Common uses of outdoor building signs:

• Outdoor building signs and outdoor plaques typically display business logo, name, contact information to help visitors gather information.
• Help visitors identify and navigate to the premises from longer distances.

Totem and monolith signs provide a high-impact, freestanding solution for visibility and navigation.

Common uses of totems and monoliths:

• Signal entrances and exits of retail, industrial and car parks.
• Inform passers-by of a business’s presence or facilities and opening times.

Post and panel signs offer a versatile, durable way to guide and inform visitors outdoors.

Common uses of post and panel signs:

• Direct people to entrances and exits of your premises from long and short distances.
• Display maps and other graphics to facilitate navigation & orientation.
• Direct visitors between exterior areas of a site.
• Communicate traffic information (turnings, car park locations and parking regulations etc.)

Finger posts are multi-directional signs that provide clear navigation across large outdoor areas.

Common uses of finger posts:

• Keep visitors on track to their destination at different stages of their journey
• Commonly used outdoors around university campuses, hospital and healthcare facilities, and outdoor attractions such as parks

Directories and interchangeable plaques offer structured navigation, particularly in multi-floor buildings.

Common uses of directories:

• Located near lifts, stairwells, corridors, unit entrances to help visitors navigate different floors.
• Display information such as room numbers, facilities, or time-sensitive information like events.

Wall graphics combine wayfinding with creativity, enhancing the visitor experience.

Common uses of wall graphics:

• Can enhance the user experience with an impactful take on wayfinding using creative designs and illustrations.

Floor graphics offer practical and space-efficient wayfinding solutions.

Common uses of floor graphics:

• Located in reception areas of hospitals, GP surgeries, and schools to convey regulatory information.
• Demarcate disabled parking bays.

Door signs provide clear labelling for rooms and restricted areas.

Common uses of door signs:

• Schools, hospitals and any business with staff-assigned spaces.
• Separate communal spaces from private.
• Increase accessibility with the addition of braille.

Banners offer a flexible, high-visibility solution for temporary or large-scale wayfinding.

Common uses of banners:

• Temporary wayfinding solution for events.
• Permanent wayfinding for large structures.

At its core, wayfinding is about making navigation easy and intuitive. But functionality doesn’t have to mean boring! A simple journey is what users want, but engaging wayfinding solutions can enhance the user experience while keeping things practical. Consider these creative approaches:

• Projected arrows on the floor: Simple, effective, and easy to understand. Paired with additional signage, they create a streamlined shopping experience for customers.

• Colour-coded pathways: Direct visitors effortlessly while tapping into the benefits of colour psychology to reinforce your brand’s personality.

• Themed wayfinding signage: Make your signage an extension of your brand. For example, a movie theatre could use film reel-shaped directional signs for a more immersive experience.

When customers visit a new or unfamiliar destination, the first things they want are simplicity and clarity. A universally understood icon, such as baby-changing facilities, can communicate more effectively than text alone. A well-designed wayfinding system can, therefore, combine symbols and text to direct your visitors. 

More signage doesn’t always mean better navigation. Overloading a space with signs can confuse rather than assist. Instead, focus on strategic “decision points” - places where visitors must decide on where they’re going next. Obvious points include stairwells, lifts, and exits. Let the experts at Signs Express help you to identify these crucial spots in your organisation.

Wayfinding isn’t just about getting from ‘A to B’; it can become an extension of your brand identity. Creative, branded signage helps reinforce what makes your organisation unique while guiding visitors effectively.

Good design is often invisible, but it plays a central role in our day-to-day-lives. Without thoughtful wayfinding, navigating public spaces like museums, offices, or shopping centres would be far more frustrating. While it might not be the first thing brands consider, a well-planned wayfinding system can be the key to a smooth, memorable visitor experience.

Want to create a wayfinding system that’s both functional and engaging? Let Signs Express help you design a solution that fits your brand and space perfectly.