Wayfinding design in Dubai is more critical than ever as more businesses and organisations are working hard to bounce back and thrive in the post-COVID era while also ensuring that their employees and clients remain safe and comfortable.
To learn more, keep reading for the benefits of wayfinding in the new normal.
1. What type of wayfinding design signage is crucial in the new normal?
The best wayfinding design can help businesses and organisations stay open, boost their business, and ensure that both staff and customers are kept safe.
There are two essential types of wayfinding design signage that are crucial in the new normal. These are directional signage and instructional signage.
Directional signage is essential for areas where you want to design a one-way system for consumers, such as in shops, parking garages, hospital lobbies, and other places with significant foot traffic. This type of wayfinding design signage often includes arrows and distancing marks and requires a considerable amount of attention when it comes to the layout.
In the new normal, it is essential that individuals maintain distance between themselves and others. Additionally, you may have certain areas that are shut off from specific individuals to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible.
For example, in an open-plan office building, you may want to create a one-way system so that workers can maintain their distance. Or, you may have specific corridors, meeting rooms, or restricted access areas of the building.
Whatever the case, by having the appropriate directional signage, you can ensure that everyone who visits your space understands where they can go and which direction they should be heading.
Another important option is instructional signage that presents the necessary information required for your employees and visitors to be informed and safe.
For example, now you may want to remind individuals to use your sanitising stations, wash their hands, and practise social distancing. You may also want to design signage that directs them to common areas such as the restrooms or the lobby.
By having instructional signage be a part of your wayfinding design, you can be assured that you are taking the necessary steps to ensure that everyone who spends time in your area is on the same page and is being reminded of their responsibilities for maintaining safety in the new normal.
2. Who needs to implement wayfinding design?
Any business or organisation that has a physical presence needs to implement wayfinding design. However, the type of wayfinding design you have and the intricacy of the strategy will depend on your business’s size and layout.
On the one hand, small businesses or small physical locations are not going to have too many choices when it comes to designing the layout. However, there still needs to be a considerable amount of thought that goes into the design.
On the other hand, the bigger your organisation or physical space, the more choices you have and the more challenging it can be to create an effective wayfinding design strategy.
If you are looking to reopen your business in the post-COVID world, it is crucial to spend time planning your signage well-ahead of reopening. You also want to ensure you are providing yourself with enough time to monitor it and engage with employees and visitors about how it is working.
The more feedback you can get, the better positioned you will be to make effective changes that improve the wayfinding design while also keeping people safe and comfortable.
3. Why is it crucial to work with wayfinding design consultants?
In order to reap all the benefits of wayfinding design – both today and tomorrow – it is crucial that you work with wayfinding design consultants who can balance the art with the science.
It is imperative that your wayfinding design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and useful. This is a hard balance to maintain, which is why it is always recommended that you partner with professionals who have the skills, tools, and know-how to make this happen.
Moreover, wayfinding design consultants are aware of the wayfinding design trends that are occurring and are better positioned to inform you of which trends you should incorporate and which you are better off without. While you certainly want to be utilising relevant technological tools, it is also vital that each one has a well-thought-out purpose.
Wayfinding design consultants will also work to ensure that the design is aligned with your branding and involves designs and systems that are a natural extension of your brand. This aspect is a crucial part of wayfinding design because it helps create an environment in which guests feel welcome and safe.
If you are going to build trust between you and your customers, then it is essential they feel relaxed and connected with the environment you have built.
Final Thoughts
For too many businesses, the idea of beginning a wayfinding design project is so overwhelming that they shy away from doing it – despite being aware of the multitude of benefits that’ll result from it.
If this sounds like your organisation, or if you no longer want to be missing out on what wayfinding design can bring for your business, reach out to the best wayfinding design consultants in Dubai today.
We are ready to start working with you to fulfil your unique wayfinding design strategy.
