Working with the graphic designers at Juzvolter, we assisted this client with refining their logo, developing it so it was able to be applied to signage of a variety of sizes. We then developed & installed overhead signs, window decals & vehicle graphics.

Working with our design team at Juzvolter, we developed a fresh look for King Rooster, a locally-owned fast food provider in the Taree Central Shopping Centre, NSW. With close proximity to larger competitors in the Centre - as well as others just a short walk away - this client needed signage that made them an enticing option for passing foot traffic. We developed a look for their menus that celebrated their strong flavours & fresh food offering.

The best kind of direction is the kind you don’t know you’re being given, but rather following involuntarily as if the idea was your own. That’s not a high brow quote from an obscure philosopher - it is simply the reality of well-designed signage. Wayfinding signs created with this in mind aim to use text, colour & icons in such a way that users don’t need to stop and examine the entire sign, top-to-bottom, left-to-right. Instead, they instinctively know:

Which part of the sign they need to engage withHow to interpret that information as it relates to them andHow to act upon it

This article researched the intricacies of subconscious reasoning, and how that in fact informs how be behave, more so than conscious thought. Pouget asserts that “You don't consciously decide to stop at a red light or steer around an obstacle on the road. Once we started looking at the decisions our brains make without our knowledge, we found that they almost always reach the right decision, given the information they had to work with." The article goes on to discuss how our brains will monitor a scenario for a period of time until they have gathered enough information to satisfy our “confidence threshold”, at which point our subconscious brain provides our conscious brain with a definitive answer. The key to the tests conducted was the subjects repeatedly witnessing the same set of circumstances until they could confidently make predictions as to the outcome. The time taken to reach the confidence threshold is individual and circumstantial, however the process remains the same. So how does this relate to successful wayfinding signage? When directional signs are designed & engineered in a considered way, you can leverage the user’s prior experience of signage interactions to essentially ‘fill in the blanks’ of what your sign is communicating. Take this example:

Instantly, you know what this means. No text, no indication of the actual amenity type - even the graphics themselves are a crude impression of a man & woman. However, these simple shapes tell you exactly what you can expect upon arriving at the facility. Why? Because you’ve seen it a thousand times before, and your subconscious brain is already confident in what you need to think & do in relation to this sign. Using this same principle, wayfinding signage executed well should say just as much with just as little. To that end, wayfinding signs are generally organised into 5 categories: identification, information, directional, regulatory and interpretive signs. These signage types each have their own purpose and rules, usually resulting in a consistent ‘look & feel’. Users will know instinctively as they approach the sign whether it contains the information they need, what part of the sign relates to them, and how this sign is going to influence their subsequent actions. Let’s look at these 5 categories in the context of park signs, to better understand how they differ and the needs they each meet:

1. Identification Signs

As the name suggests, these are purely to denote the name of a park, walking track or other prominent destination. If the user is seeking out one of these signs, they want to be confident they are in the right place. They might be travelling at speed - i.e. in a car - or might want to know if this is the right place before they commit to entering - i.e from a distance. Therefore, these signs should remain uncluttered and simple, ideally indicating a name only. In smaller examples that might be seen closer up - i.e. on foot when entering a picnic area within a larger park - it would be reasonable to include icons indicating the facilities available. But this would be the limit of the sign’s contents in order to keep to its primary objective.

2. Information Signs

These are reserved for dense quantities of information - i.e. maps, location descriptions, permissible & prohibited activities, hazards, facilities, etc. - observed from a short distance away and for a more substantial period of time. We use this kind of park signage because we need more than just direction, and are willing to invest more time in consuming the contents. An understanding of the information hierarchy is vital - you need to know the kind of information the user is after, from most important to least, as this will directly influence:

What features are emphasised in mapsWhat text needs to be in a larger fontWhat facilities need to be noted andThe importance of other factors like distance, gradient, environment & landscape.

In an environmental signage context, a mountain biker would be more interested in the gradient of a path & distance between intersections, whereas a family would want to know the proximity of playground, BBQs and amenities.

3. Directional Signs

Similarly to identification signs, these wayfinding signs work best with minimal content as they are usually interacted with in transit or at speed. From an installation point of view, they should be easy to pass by as they are not a point of reference as seen in the example of Information Signs - the user doesn’t go to the sign to collect the information they need, it’s done as they move past it.

4. Regulatory Signs

These signs simply communicate what you can & cannot do. These too should be simple, uncluttered and clear for maximum impact, especially in the instance of notifying the user of a hazard. Signs alerting the user to danger are even more subject to the principle of ‘communication at speed’. This split-second recognition is crucial, especially in a park signage context where unstable surfaces, potential interactions with wildlife or hidden dangers like rips & currents are most certainly on a need-to-know basis. Regulatory signs also rely heavily on well designed icons. They should function independent of text, again relating back to our subconscious brain recognising shapes & colours from previous scenarios.

5. Interpretive Signs

Interpretive signs are more closely related to information signs in that we use them to consume large amounts of content, both graphical & textual. These generally offer more creativity and are designed to be enjoyed - in a park context, they may tell the story of an historical site, or explain the behaviours of an endangered species. Interpretive signs often enhance the user’s experience of an environment, allowing them to gain insight into a location and an understanding of its lifecycle whilst appreciating the setting itself.

Overall, an understanding of what the user’s needs are and how our brains process information can lend itself to intelligently designed & implemented wayfinding signs. Above all, good signage should be interpreted subconsciously. For those seeking to have wayfinding signage created, it’s paramount to work with a company that understands all these principles. At Barrier Signs, we have a well-established history of developing, designing, manufacturing & installing some highly successful wayfinding signs, especially in the context of environmental & park signs. We work with strict adherence to style guides, and can create custom signage manuals in consultation with both our design & manufacturing teams. Need park signage? Or perhaps wayfinding signs for an urban environment? Get in touch and see how we can help you find your way. Hope we can chat soon!

About the Author: Meredith is part of the Marketing Team at Barrier Signs. With a background in graphic design within marketing teams of both large & small enterprise, she is an avid reader of tech reviews, marketing blogs and is a little bit crazy about new flat design trends.

In front of you, on your desk, is your shiny new signage style guide. Months of to-ing & fro-ing with designers, engineers, and colleagues, dozens of emails, dropbox requests, google docs shares and a myriad of phone calls have lead to the creation of this professional signage manual that will guide the way (pun intended) for your wayfinding signs from here into the well-sign-posted future.

Suddenly, you remember how many others are looking at the same polished document, and the sheer number of users - as well as the huge potential for the rule book to quickly get thrown out the window - becomes painfully obvious.

Enter: the online ordering system.

Online? For signs? How could there possibly be a digital solution for something that requires so many variables, maps, content, arrows, icons, different font sizes, rules…

We’re glad you asked. Here are the top 5 reasons that an online ordering system is EXACTLY what’s needed for the ongoing management of your signage strategy (as well as your sanity!).

1. It funnels all the information into one place.

An online portal means there is ONE method by which users can create signage requests. Rather than a flurry of emails, scans of hand drawn diagrams, or post it notes, it sets the standard for:

What information is mandatory for a submission.What the user needs to think about before ordering.What rules & limits apply to different sign types.

Here at Barrier Signs, we recently completed an online ordering system for Warringah Council in Sydney, NSW. Both the council & their service area covered a myriad of users & signage needs, from Rangers in their National Parks to staff members charged with directional signage in their metropolitan areas.

We built a stand-alone website to take all enquiries for all signs. Covering identification, information, directional, regulatory & wayfinding signs, we were able to create order forms with:

Mandatory fields (so the user could not progress until they were filled in)Conditional Logic (think of this as algebra, where in the instance of x your options are y or z. For example, if a single large icon is selected, only one line of text can be inputted accordingly.)Visual cues (in some instances, the image would change based on the options selected)Rich Text formatting (users can nominate text to be bold, larger font, italics, etc. if the style guide permits)File uploads (great for maps for wayfinding signs.)

2. It starts a digital paper-trail.

Another great feature is accountability. Utilising mandatory fields in this instance, we secure the user’s name, direct line and email address, so they receive a copy of their order and we can contact them if we need anything further. The email sent to the user can then be duplicated/printed/filed/copied as you would any other email, so it can fit in seamlessly with in-house documentation. Similarly, the email we receive accompanies the job ticket from the estimators right through to the graphic designers & engineers, removing the potential for miscommunication and human error that can occur when information has to manually transferred from one system to another.

3. It is user-friendly.

As you’re aware, every workplace is full of people with varying degrees of digital literacy. Consider the needs of your staff, and allow that to influence your key objectives when considering the ‘look and feel’ of the online system. This approach will help you remain goal-oriented when developing the system - either by yourself or with an agency - as all the cool gadgets that come with web development software can often get distracting!

The system we developed at Barrier Signs was largely a visual one, using actual graphics from the Warringah Council style guide to direct users to the sign they required. The specific sign then appears throughout, with labels and arrows denoting what part of the sign the user was interacting with at various stages of the form itself.

4. It can integrate with other familiar platforms.

Developing an online signage system is one thing, encouraging your staff to use it is another. Largely because of ‘software fatigue’ - after a while we all become weary of getting up to speed with another platform our business wants to implement.

Thankfully, it’s easy to integrate with more familiar programs so the user doesn’t feel like they’re starting from scratch. Take the example of the interface we built here at Barrier Signs: we married our order forms up with Dropbox, allowing us to store copies of all requests filed online in order of their request number. We then sent an invite to the signage manager at Warringah Council to share the folder so she can check all requests at her leisure. We can also integrate with Google Sheets, which allows us to harness the built in features of spreadsheets. Simple!

5. It can grow with your needs.

The overarching joy of using an online interface is fluidity: it can grow with your needs. You can build first drafts, get a focus group of your colleagues to test them and provide feedback, then implement changes that are user-focussed. If your style guide is updated, more sign types can easily be added in line with the existing format. Want to use your signage interface as an online portal for other business needs? Why not!

To refer to our Barrier Signs example once more, our friends at Warringah Council preferred our system so much they requested we cater to their temporary signage on top of their official style guide. These were an easy addition to make, and fit in seamlessly with the overall interface.

Think an online signage system might be just what you need? Great - but to get started, there’s one important factor to consider: Can you manage it yourself, or is it best to work with someone you trust?

There are a myriad of do-it-yourself drag-and-drop systems that are a mere Google search away. Lots of them are cheap, some are free, some are expensive but offer brilliant features, and almost all are backed by a great knowledge base & support service.

BUT all of them require TIME. You will need to dedicate time to understand:

how the interface workshow to best use all the hidden features & add-onsunderstand the individual limitations andcompare different services to see which works best for you.

And that’s just to set up the service, before ongoing maintenance & implementing changes come into play.

The alternative is to work with someone you trust, one who can manage your requests & feedback, present options, test the system for faults and be there as a friendly support service into the future. (It also helps if they’re tech/software/signage nerds!)

At Barrier Signs, we have implemented the above to success, and are constantly looking for better ways to offer more. If you’d like to discuss how we might be able to help you, why not get in touch.

Hope we can chat soon!

Meredith

Barrier Signs Pty. Ltd.

About the Author: Meredith is part of the Marketing Team at Barrier Signs. With a background in graphic design within marketing teams of both large & small enterprise, she is an avid reader of tech reviews, marketing blogs and is a little bit crazy about new flat design trends.

A complete wayfinding sign schedule was developed for the Boral Hall Quarry. Using a style guide, we supplied over 200 signs specific to this site that were all digitally printed & manufactured in-house to produce a consistent branding image.

Port Macquarie Base Hospital was a significant project, with many different wayfinding signs needing to be fabricated and

installed across the site.

Working with architectural plans & brand guidelines, a consistent look was achieved. From the plinth signage (illuminated & non illuminated), to internal hanging & wall signage as well as window graphics, we delivered a complete signage rollout.

We have worked with Office of Environment & Heritage for many years now & have designed, manufactured & installed a wide range of interpretive & wayfinding signage across the state.

Our graphic design team at Juzvolter are skilled at designing all manner of interpretive signs & have worked closely with OEH to ensure all signage meets their strict guidelines.

This project was a classic example of the effective use of multiple materials. Recycled hardwood used with modern aluminium components created a blend of the old & the new. This sits perfectly in the idyllic park environment at Bulahdelah.

This Wayfinding Sign focuses on the services within the town centre, with the robust construction ensuring longevity in this public area.