Wayfinding & Signage

A wayfinding system is the invisible architecture of a building. It guides people through corridors, into lifts, past reception desks, beyond fire doors, to the right meeting room. Do it well and nobody notices. Do it poorly and you hear about it at the front desk. We design wayfinding systems that fit the architecture and the brand of the building, from an acrylic sign with routed letters to a large pylon at the entrance.

Where wayfinding actually wins

Most wayfinding systems happen too late. The building is finished, tenants move in, somebody realises: we need signs. Two weeks later vinyl is stuck and acrylic is screwed in, none of it related to the architecture. The result is a building that looks retrofitted with signage because it was retrofitted with signage.

We prefer to be earlier. Ideally we sit with architects, interior designers and the developer when the floor plans are still under discussion. Then orientation can be designed into the space. Which sightlines lead where, where does one door sit behind another, where are the natural transitions. From those answers a wayfinding system grows that needs no arrows, because the arrows are already in the architecture.

What we actually deliver

A typical wayfinding project covers an analysis of paths and sightlines, a signage concept with hierarchies (exterior signage, floor wayfinding, door signs, tactile signage), the design tied to the visual identity of the building, on-site material samples, technical drawings for the sign makers and production supervision through to installation. We usually start with a short on-site visit or, for new builds, with the plans and a brand workshop. Materials are chosen from real samples, not from PDF catalogues. 8mm routed acrylic looks different from aluminium composite with applied vinyl, both are valid, both need to be justified.

For facade design we bring in structural engineers when fixings need to bear loads. For event branding and temporary signage we use other materials, lighter, removable, sometimes 3M vinyl on aluminium composite. In the end the client receives a wayfinding system that works, documentation any facility team can extend later, and a building where nobody has to ask the way.