Wayfinding signage is a must-have feature for any company’s trade show. And, with so much going on at these events, you want to make sure it’s easy for visitors to find their way to your booth without getting lost (or taking detours that land them at someone else’s booth instead).
Let’s take a look at what makes for an effective wayfinding sign and explore some best practices for designing one. But first, let’s make sure we’re on the same page with what exactly wayfinding signage is.
What is Wayfinding Signage?
Wayfinding signage is any type of sign that helps direct individuals to, around and within a location. Its purpose is to guide visitors to specific places like restrooms, lobbies and in this particular context, trade show booths.
There are four main types of wayfinding signage.
- Identification: This type of wayfinding signage tells you exactly where you are. Some examples of identification signs include door plaques, departmental markers, and landmark signage. At your tradeshow, your identification signage might include your company banner or an a-frame sign that denotes which section of your booth the visitor is currently in.
- Directional: Directional signage tells you where you need to go, and is perfect for guiding a lost visitor to their desired destination. Examples of directional signage include free-standing signs, a-frames, arrows on the floor, and directory signage. At your tradeshow, directional signs are going to be key to guiding visitors to your booth, so invest in some free-standing banner displays to show them the way.
- Informational: Informational signage lets people know the important details of a specific location. They should aim to answer a visitor’s questions before they can even ask. Examples of information signage include business information (like a company address, phone number, the services they offer or a social handle) and amenities signage (like the Wi-Fi password).
- Regulatory: Regulatory signage lets visitors know what is and isn’t’ acceptable in a particular location. Think “No Smoking” signs or “High Voltage” warnings. At a trade show, regulatory signage might include “Please Do Not Touch” signs to keep people from moving displays or breaking anything.
No matter which type of wayfinding signage you need at your trade show booth, you want to make sure it’s effective. Good wayfinding signs usually do the following:
- They quickly direct people to where they need to be
- They provide visitors with a positive user experience
- They minimizes the stress of navigating somewhere
- They legitimize and affirm your brand
- They are bold and eye-catching
To make sure your wayfinding signage is effective and includes these elements, you’ll want to follow some best practices when it comes to designing your signage.
5 Best Practices for Designing Wayfinding Signage
- Consistent Branding: Your wayfinding signs should match your booth, and your booth should match your brand. The design between all three should be cohesive and consistent. So, before designing your signage, it’s a good idea to set some rules about color, font, sizing, and graphics so visitors can easily recognize wayfinding signs as your company’s.
- Prioritize Simplicity: Don’t make your wayfinding signage too complicated — you want your visitors to process the information on your sign in a few seconds or less. That means keeping your word count low (below 5 words), your graphics large (like arrows), and your background filled with ample negative space to help the viewer digest the information without feeling too overwhelmed.
- Use Visuals: You want your signage to be bold, and that means making proper use of your brand colors, logo, and graphics. Symbols and shapes will help visitors understand where to go much more easily than words can sometimes, so be sure to make them large enough so people can see them.
- Consider Materials: When designing your wayfinding signage you’ll want to keep materials top of mind because you might be transporting the signage to and from the tradeshow multiple times. You’ll want to pick high quality materials that can withstand bumps and bruises that come with travel. For example, fabric signs are permanent and easy to transport, while a foamcore sign, while cheaper, may be harder to transport without damaging.
- Thoughtful Placement: Your wayfinding signage may be bold and beautiful, but if it’s hard to see, it won’t do you any good. That’s why placement is the most important part when it comes to wayfinding signage. Display signage at junctions, hang signs at eye level and be sure that each sign leads to the next one creating a clear path for visitors to easily see and follow.
Want Help With Your Wayfinding Signage This Season?
Help visitors find their way to your next tradeshow booth with wayfinding signage from Impression Signs. Our designers are experienced in creating bold, memorable signs that can help draw attention to your booth and lead them your way. Give us a call at 651.328.6600 or email us today to discuss options.
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