- Full text available
- Summary: Short piece that concentrates on signage basics; best summary quote "one truism about library signage... most of it is not very good." Three forms of signage: Directional, Regulatory (architectural, usually not under control of library), and Informational ("tells building users where they are and what they can (or cannot) do"). Directional - use as minimal signage as possible; use bump points to help with placement (places where people slow down or stop - can be discovered through wayfinding studies); consider best placement through observing users' bump points. Most signage mistakes are informational signs - signs that use words like "No, must, forbidden, only, prohibited, do not," include bold and underlined (together!), and lots of red. Other things to avoid:
- lettering too small if meant to be read from distance, opposite if for up close
- too wordy for a glance
- font not legible
- not enough white/negative space around letters
- poor contrast between colors
- words or symbols are unclear
- cheaply made, poorly mounted, old
- located where hard to see at point of need
|