WEB EXCLUSIVE: Signs Of Success For FMs
This Web Exclusive comes from Ernest Dwight of SouthWood Corporation.
As a facility management professional, your goal is to provide a consistently pleasant experience to users of the facility. Creating an inviting and attractive atmosphere is important to that goal. But equally important is to ensure that the facility environment matches your organization's brand identity. A mismatch between environment and brand identity leads to an uncomfortable confusion, rather than the pleasant experience you are striving for.
Signage plays an important role in retaining brand identity while guiding facility users to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Signage is a first impression for those who don't know you and a reinforcement of expectations for those who do. It is a unique chance to create value and enhance image.
The intention of signage is not just to get noticed. Going to a black-tie dinner in overalls would get you noticed, but what would it do for your image?
There are four basic types of signs:
The implied message of signage must be one of quality and image consistent with the business brand. Not only must the graphics reinforce the marketing image of the business, design and materials must appropriately reflect the architectural flavor of the building or development. Don't overlook the viewing and site conditions which impact the appropriateness of every solution.
Consistency throughout the property is also important to an effective signage program. An assortment of shapes, colors, materials, and typefaces creates a look of clutter and confusion. All signs should convey a consistent look and project the same image regardless of their purpose or location.
A proliferation of wordy signs detracts from the visual appeal of your property without offering any real value to your visitors. Keep your message simple and use fewer signs so that they will be noticed and read easily.
It is often difficult for staff members who know the exact location of everything to see the property from a first-time visitor's viewpoint. Seeking assistance from an outside source can uncover existing signage problems and help avoid future problems. Professional sign planners determine what signs are appropriate by systematically identifying sign types, then developing a hierarchy within each type. They list all the facilities that need identification, and then assess the need for directional signs to help people find these facilities, informational signs dealing with use of the facilities and regulatory signs that control access to or use of the facilities.
After the planning process defines signage needs, designers use known size criteria for message legibility, as well as building, zoning and traffic considerations to develop concepts that reflect the property's architectural identity and image. Designers compare each sign type to others in the program to ensure that a cohesive and consistent look is maintained.
It isn't necessary for you to submerge yourself in the technicalities of signage. What is important is that you are able to assess what you need and how it can make a positive contribution to your facility.
As a facility management professional, your goal is to provide a consistently pleasant experience to users of the facility. Creating an inviting and attractive atmosphere is important to that goal. But equally important is to ensure that the facility environment matches your organization's brand identity. A mismatch between environment and brand identity leads to an uncomfortable confusion, rather than the pleasant experience you are striving for.
Signage plays an important role in retaining brand identity while guiding facility users to accomplish what they need to accomplish. Signage is a first impression for those who don't know you and a reinforcement of expectations for those who do. It is a unique chance to create value and enhance image.
The intention of signage is not just to get noticed. Going to a black-tie dinner in overalls would get you noticed, but what would it do for your image?
There are four basic types of signs:
- Identification signs that name a facility or location;
- Directional signs that guide people to a facility or location;
- Informational signs that provide necessary facts, such as hours of operation, golf-course hole layouts, or how to use exercise equipment in a health club; and
- Regulatory signs that tell people what is permitted and what is not permitted, such as stop signs, swimming pool rules and restricted areas.
The implied message of signage must be one of quality and image consistent with the business brand. Not only must the graphics reinforce the marketing image of the business, design and materials must appropriately reflect the architectural flavor of the building or development. Don't overlook the viewing and site conditions which impact the appropriateness of every solution.
Consistency throughout the property is also important to an effective signage program. An assortment of shapes, colors, materials, and typefaces creates a look of clutter and confusion. All signs should convey a consistent look and project the same image regardless of their purpose or location.
A proliferation of wordy signs detracts from the visual appeal of your property without offering any real value to your visitors. Keep your message simple and use fewer signs so that they will be noticed and read easily.
It is often difficult for staff members who know the exact location of everything to see the property from a first-time visitor's viewpoint. Seeking assistance from an outside source can uncover existing signage problems and help avoid future problems. Professional sign planners determine what signs are appropriate by systematically identifying sign types, then developing a hierarchy within each type. They list all the facilities that need identification, and then assess the need for directional signs to help people find these facilities, informational signs dealing with use of the facilities and regulatory signs that control access to or use of the facilities.
After the planning process defines signage needs, designers use known size criteria for message legibility, as well as building, zoning and traffic considerations to develop concepts that reflect the property's architectural identity and image. Designers compare each sign type to others in the program to ensure that a cohesive and consistent look is maintained.
It isn't necessary for you to submerge yourself in the technicalities of signage. What is important is that you are able to assess what you need and how it can make a positive contribution to your facility.
Labels: Branding, Ernest_Dwight, Exteriors, Interiors, Signage, SouthWood_Corporation
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