Wayfinding Signage FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Wayfinding Signage

• What is wayfinding?

  Wayfinding is the process of finding your way or navigating through a building, environment or space. Wayfinding is comprised of the steps you take to reach your destination, following the best route, recognizing your destination and finding your way back to the starting point using clear and logical signs, graphics and symbols that help you remember your route.

• What is the history of wayfinding?

  The history of wayfinding dates back to the labyrinths and mazes of ancient times over 3,500 years ago. The term wayfinding was first used by architect Kevin Lynch in 1960 to describe the role of maps, street numbers, directional signs and other devices in cities. In our modern world, wayfinding tools and technologies provide orientation and location awareness to help people navigate to landmarks, places and spaces.

• Who can benefit the most from wayfinding signage?

  Wayfinding signage is most helpful for people visiting cities, hospitals, buildings, campuses and other public spaces that they are unfamiliar with or have limited occasions to visit such as airports, museums and parks. Directional wayfinding signs can help companies and organizations with naming, numbering and overall organization of a building, campus or facility and is a critical part of a wayfinding plan.

• Where can wayfinding signage be utilized?

  Wayfinding signage can be used indoors and outdoors in, on and around corporate buildings, manufacturing facilities, hospitals, retail locations, campus facilities and construction sites. In any place people gather or visit, wayfinding is helpful for the purposes of informing people, reinforcing architecture and improving traffic flow. Wayfinding signage is not only for new buildings and locations; it can also be used to improve the functionality of existing buildings.

• What types of signs are used in wayfinding?

  Digital wayfinding is a powerful solution for providing directions and in-depth information that resolves many of the challenges of using a folded, printed map to find the way. Digital wayfinding helps visitors explore facilities and campuses by looking at messaging and graphics on interactive digital kiosks, digital displays, video walls, outdoor digital LED, flat panel displays, message signs or digital marquee signs. Digital wayfinding signs not only guide people through a building, but they also enhance an environment by showing starting and ending points, visually depicting and drawing the paths and providing directions.

• What is interactive wayfinding?

  Interactive wayfinding is an experience using a touchscreen display interface. Interactive wayfinding can integrate custom mapping and navigation software to help people get where they need to be and provide directions. Interactive wayfinding kiosks are designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Interactive touchscreen wayfinding can be used to inform and communicate information using motion graphics that capture attention.

• Why choose FASTSIGNS® for my wayfinding signage needs?

  It’s important to choose the right company for your wayfinding signage. While many companies specialize in signage, FASTSIGNS provides consulting to determine the best wayfinding solution for your unique needs. Whether you need wayfinding signage to direct your visitors to your location or to a particular area of your building, help people know how to exit a location or where to go to seek attention in emergency situations, park and navigate around special events or find a section in a stadium or store, FASTSIGNS can integrate wayfinding designs to help achieve your goals of keeping visitors and staff informed.

• Do all wayfinding signs need to be ADA compliant?

  To bring your building or facility into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, wayfinding signs should identify accessible environments. Wayfinding signs should mark wheelchair accessible entrances and exits, rooms, parking spaces, restrooms and can be used to point the way to elevators and hoist ways.

• Does FASTSIGNS® perform the installation?

  FASTSIGNS can perform the installation for wayfinding signage. Our team can ensure that wayfinding signs are safely and properly installed.

• What other services does FASTSIGNS® provide?

  FASTSIGNS provides other project services such as graphic design, content creation and management, project management, surveying and permitting and shipping. Whatever your visual communications needs, FASTSIGNS can help. Find a center near you.