Why is wayfinding so important?
Wayfinding, orientation signs, or directional signs - a beloved child has many names! We all encounter it daily, often without even thinking about it. It is the signage, symbols, and markings that help us find our way in our everyday lives, on public transport, at airports, hospitals, hotels, shopping centres, and public spaces. When wayfinding works as it should, the environment is perceived as safe, clear, and easy to navigate. When it fails, it instead creates stress, irritation, and unnecessary questions.
Wayfinding is needed in properties and environments of all sizes, but becomes particularly crucial in larger areas where there are many choices of paths, entrances, and functions. Well-thought-out wayfinding saves time, reduces the burden on staff, and improves the overall experience for visitors, customers, and residents.
The balance between design and clarity
The goal of good wayfinding is to create signage that is both aesthetically pleasing and clear without compromising function. The signage should blend into the environment, strengthen the brand, and at the same time be easy to understand, even for someone visiting the place for the first time.
Typography, colour choice, contrasts, placement, and legibility all play a crucial role. An attractive sign that cannot be read or understood does not fulfil its purpose. Therefore, design and function must always go hand in hand.
Different types of signs for wayfinding
There are many ways to work with wayfinding, and often it is the combination of several solutions that creates an effective overall concept. Examples of common types of directional signage include:
- Foil on floors and walls.
Perfect for guiding flows, marking zones or showing direction in a discreet but effective way.
- Signs on ceilings and walls.
Often used in larger premises where signs need to be visible from a distance.
- Signage in lifts, stairwells, and car parks.
Crucial places where visitors often lose their bearings.
- Pictograms and symbols.
Create quick understanding regardless of language and are particularly important in public spaces.
The choice of signs is always adapted to the environment, target group, and how people move around the premises.
Our experience with wayfinding
At PS Skylt & Inredning, we have extensive experience in working with wayfinding in a variety of environments. We have supplied signage to some of the most well-known healthcare providers in Sweden, from healthcare centres and hospitals to residential care homes where clarity, safety, and accessibility are particularly important.
We have also developed complete wayfinding concepts for exclusive hotels, where material choices, design, and details play a crucial role in the overall experience. Regardless of the environment, the goal is always the same: to create wayfinding that feels self-evident, well-thought-out, and sustainable over time.
How we work with a wayfinding project
When we take on a new wayfinding project, the work always begins with a thorough survey. We conduct an on-site review and survey to understand the flows, needs, and challenges in the premises.
We then compile where signage is needed, what type of sign is most suitable, and how the information should be structured to be as clear as possible. Once this is established, we can focus on design, material choices, and expression, always adapted to the architecture of the place and the client's brand.
In the final stage of the project, our experienced installers take over and ensure that all signage is correctly installed according to our documentation. The result is a complete wayfinding solution where function, form, and quality interact.
Wayfinding that makes a difference
Good wayfinding is fundamentally about making environments more accessible, human, and welcoming. With the right signage, you not only create structure and clarity, but you also improve the experience for everyone who moves through the environment.
Would you like to know more about how we can help you create a well-thought-out and effective wayfinding solution? Contact us at PS Skylt & Inredning; we will assist you all the way from analysis to finished installation.