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Digital signage: A budget-friendly wayfinding tool

Historically, the term 'wayfinding' has referred to techniques used by travelers who were making journeys on unmarked and often mislabeled routes; today, digital signage has given the term a whole new meaning.

April 15, 2015 by Laurie Marshall — Writer, Contractor

Historically, the term "wayfinding" has referred to techniques used by travelers who were making journeys on unmarked and often mislabeled routes. These techniques included symbols left by other travelers, astronomical charts and, eventually, maps and printed guides.

More recently, wayfinding has been used in the context of architecture to refer to the user experience of orientation and choosing a path within a man-made environment. It can also refer to the set of architectural or design elements that aid orientation — for example, colored paths featured in the flooring of hospitals or distinctive icons to indicate restrooms on a map at an amusement park.

When a wayfinding system is not utilized correctly, users spend too much time looking for what they need. They may engage employees to assist them, reducing that employee's effectiveness in their job. Worse, they may become frustrated and leave the environment completely and not return. In these ways, poor wayfinding systems can negatively affect a business's bottom line.

In environments that serve the public such as city government buildings and hospitals, digital signage not only improves visitor navigation, but can also provide targeted information such as upcoming public meetings or support groups, community news and announcements. Because the message changes every few seconds, a variety of directional and informational messages can be shared on one unit, making it a cost-effective tool.

Digital signage provides an effective alternative to the static sign posted in a hallway or on the grounds of a large campus. Digital signs are highly visible, easy to update and will provide the assistance customers and visitors need without the need for your employees to leave their desks.

About Laurie Marshall

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