The term way-finding is often used in hospitals and corporate settings where one needs to make their way through a maze of floors and corridors to get to his/her destination. And urban planners use it to help visitors navigate busy city streets. But today, every retailer and business owner should be thinking about way-finding. What is way-finding?
Way-finding can be defined as spatial problem solving. It is knowing where you are in a building or an environment, knowing where your desired location is, and knowing how to get there from your present location.
In a retail setting, it has to do with letting your customers know what you sell at first glance when they enter your store. Legible department signs or aisle signs is a must. If your store is really large and the customer can’t see everything from the entrance, a map with a floor plan may be necessary. Directional signs to service counters, dressing rooms, and restrooms should also be clearly visible. And these signs all need to reflect the look of your brand. Developing ‘sign design criteria’ for way-finding, and ALL signs in your selling environment, is critical to creating signs that customers will read and remember.
Written by Lyn Falk, Founder of Retailworks Inc and Boost Creative Group Team Member
