Planning a company wayfinding system，The following two aspects should be considered as a whole: production costs, design planning.

1 Integrated planning and cost control.

The cost of production is a key consideration in the whole wayfinding system, the cost and budget determines the materials used in the wayfinding signs, the rendering effect and so on. How to spread the wayfinding sign all over the office in the most cost-effective situation?

①  What kind of wayfinding system should be made?

Currently the mainstream signs are divided into the following three types according to the way they are placed:

a.Paste type: the production cost is lower, but it needs to be designed and arranged according to the specific scene, and each scene needs to be measured in the field to arrange the position and size, which has higher requirements for the wall. In the process of long-term use, it is easy to be defaced or peeled off, with high maintenance costs.

b. Standing: very expensive to produce, generally applicable to larger and multi-floor scenes, such as parks, high-ceilinged duplex office building central hall

c. Signboard: the production cost is general, can be made after directly mounted on the wall, but also can be applied to a variety of complex walls, can be well adapted to a variety of scenarios, relatively flexible, can be reproduced.

②  Where are the signs installed?

When planning for signage, you need to do spotting。

The positioning determines where in the office area the signage needs to be placed, as well as the type and quantity of signage.  Proper placement of signage, with clear objectives, can effectively guide visitors to their destinations and achieve the best experience.

 The above figure as an example, from the entrance to the front desk there are three directions to the office area, each direction in the visual range to set up a dominant visual sign, can be reasonable and effective diversion of the crowd, to avoid too much concentration of the crowd in the centre of the region, resulting in the front position of the personnel congestion. Place the second guide sign in the key position of the personnel flow line, and make it clearly visible, to ensure the flow of articulation. In the core area and aisle set up obvious guide signs, in order to promote the coordination of the office area and the meeting and discussion area, and the effective operation of the overall flow line.

③ What are the types and number of signs?

Once the location of the signs has been determined, it is necessary to count the types of signs that need to be designed, as well as the number of different types required.

According to different functions, wayfinding signs have the following categories:

a. Guide map sign: the guide map sign consists of regional plan and functional area details. Generally placed in the more important entrances and exits and other relatively large flow of people in the location, to ensure that you can enter the office area after the discovery of the guide plate, and look for the location of the destination.

b. Direction sign: pointing board is generally placed in the office area of the key channel or corner, to ensure that the user can be in the face of bifurcation can accurately judge the direction of travel.

 c. Signage: Signage is the decentralised information point of the wayfinding system, representing the functional information of each area. According to different areas are divided into signage door signs and signage hanging signs, and different functions are divided into floors, departments, workstations, meeting rooms, bathrooms and so on.

 2 Develop an overall design style

Clever design planning can present stunning results. The following are the main aspects in the design planning process:

①   Uniformity of visual style

nterprises in the production of signs in the early stage, need to be combined with their own corporate culture characteristics, the overall decoration style to clarify the design style of the wayfinding sign.

In addition, the design style also needs to be considered in conjunction with the budget. signs style is closely related to the production of different materials also determines the style of different.

②  Develop Icon

As an essential part of the wayfinding system, the icon has a high degree of integration and quickly convey information, easy to remember the characteristics of a certain extent than the text will have a stronger representation. 

Icon design should also be combined with corporate culture to determine the line pattern is simple and clear, splicing geometry sensible and calm, sketch interesting and lively.