No matter the nature of your business, making customers, staff, and residents feel safe and comfortable when on-site is extremely important. Just as important is ensuring a smooth flow around your premises (particularly in a post-COVID world where social distancing remains crucial). Directional signage—whether in the form of wall panels, flat-cut lettering, or finger signposts—is an extremely effective way to achieve this.
At JMF Group, we are delighted to work on any direction sign project, no matter the size, budget, or specific requirements. Large and small businesses alike can benefit from our comprehensive service, which covers everything from consultation and design to production and installation.
To learn more about our directional sign products, contact our team today. Alternatively, keep reading for our comprehensive guide to directional signs.
What Are Directional Signs?
Directional signs are a type of wayfinding signage that helps people to navigate around a building or premises. Unlike traditional signs, which provide information about a specific location or room, directional signs give general directions and can be used in conjunction with other signage products (such as room numbers and fire exit signs) to create a comprehensive wayfinding system.
Directional signs are one of the four categories of wayfinding signage:
- Directional signs act as an invisible hand, guiding people to their destination.
- Identification signs tell people they’ve arrived at their destination (e.g.: door plaques).
- Informational signs supply general information about facilities (e.g.: free Wi-Fi; hours of operation).
- Finally, regulatory signs focus on rules, safety, and boundaries (e.g.: speed limits)
What Are The Different Types of Direction Signs?
Junction Signage
Junction signage is placed at the juncture of two or more paths and gives directions to specific destinations. This type of signage is often seen in public spaces such as shopping centres, hospitals, and airports.
Floor Signs
Directional arrows and coloured lines are often used on floors to indicate the flow of foot traffic or to highlight specific areas such as fire exits, queuing systems, and lift lobbies.
Finger Signage
Finger signage is a type of wall-mounted directional sign that uses an arrow to point in the direction of a destination. These signs are often seen in public places such as train stations, shopping centres, and airports.
Wall Signs
Wall signs are a popular choice for office buildings, schools, and other large premises. These signs are attached to walls (hence the name) and come in a variety of styles, including wayfinding panels, directory boards, and illuminated signs.
The Benefits of Using Directional Signs
There are many benefits to using directional signs, which is why they are commonly seen in a variety of settings (including public spaces, workplaces, and educational institutions). Some of the key benefits of directional signage include
Efficient Wayfinding
Directional signs help people to navigate around a building quickly and efficiently. This is particularly beneficial in large premises such as hospitals, shopping centres, and airports where there are multiple paths and destinations.
Reduced Congestion
Directional signage can help to reduce congestion by clearly indicating the flow of foot traffic. This is often seen in the form of floor arrows which guide people to specific areas (such as fire exits) or queuing systems.
Improved Safety
In an emergency situation, clear and concise directional signage can be the difference between life and death. That’s why directional signs are often used in conjunction with other safety signage, such as fire exit signs and first-aid signs.
Customer Experience
Directional signage can help to improve the customer experience by making it easier for people to find their way around a building. Your new customers don’t want to search for toilets or other facilities; pointing them in the right direction can improve the quality of your service, and drive repeat visits.
Staff Productivity
By clearly indicating the location of specific areas (such as meeting rooms and toilets), your staff don’t need to spend their time giving guidance to lost visitors.
Direction Sign Materials
There are a variety of materials that can be used for directional signs, which means that you can find the perfect signs to match your budget and requirements. Some of the most popular materials for directional signs include:
- Aluminium
- Dibond
- Plastic
- PVC Foam Board
- Wood
When it comes to choosing the right material for your directional signs, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, think about the environment where the sign will be placed; if it’s outdoors, you’ll need a weather-resistant material such as aluminium or Dibond. Secondly, consider the budget you have available; more expensive materials such as wood and PVC foam board tend to be of a higher quality than cheaper options like plastic. Finally, think about the look you want to achieve; for a modern look, go for aluminium or Dibond, while wood is more suited to traditional settings.
Bespoke Signs That Are Informational and On-Brand
At JMF, we believe that you shouldn’t have to compromise on aesthetics for the sake of functionality. That’s why we offer a range of bespoke signage solutions that are both informative and on-brand. We work with you to understand your specific needs before creating high-quality signs that are tailored to your requirements.
Site Survey
Before we get to work on design, engineers will visit your premises to conduct a free site survey. They’ll assess your building and your requirements, take measurements, and take photos to help account for any peculiarities of your building.
Design
Armed with the specifics of your location, our design team will arrange a chat to discuss visual aspects of your signs. They’ll discuss colour (including corporate colours), shape (such as arrow signs), and any artwork or graphics you’d like to include. They’ll send a mocked-up image for your approval before production and won’t move ahead with the process until you’re 100% happy.
Manufacture
With design work complete, our expert sign maker team will process your order, bringing your ideas to life. We only use the highest quality materials to create signs that are built to last, and all of our signs are made in-house at our state-of-the-art facility in the north east.
Installation
Once your signs are ready, our team of certified installation experts will fit them onsite. They’ll work quickly and efficiently to minimise disruption, and will ensure that your signs are fitted correctly and securely.
What Are You Waiting For?
For custom directional signs that are high-quality, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient, look no further than JMF. Speak to one of our team today to discuss how we can help your company.
