Education Facilities should utilise signage to the best of their ability to provide a comfortable and safe environment for students, staff and visitors. There is a large variety of signage options available and it can be hard to decide which ones will work for you, this blog post will cover the main types of signage both interior and exterior and how they can be best utilised within your education facility.
Uses of Exterior Signage in schools
Exterior signage is best used to brand your site and put forward a professional image to those who pass by. Exterior signage can also be used to guide these people into and around your facility. This type of signage sets the first impression of your facility and could be a factor in whether someone continues into the school or not. But what are the different types of Exterior signage and how could your education facility utilise them?
Entrance Signs
Entrance signs are the initial point of contact between you and any potential staff member, student, or supporter, so making a good first impression is critical. Entrance signs should be large enough to be seen from a distance and, depending on the arrangement of your school, visible from the car park or main road. This signage should include the school's name, logo, and any other vital information, such as directions, contact information, or office hours. This will be the main identifier for the site and will announce to everyone where and who you are.
Directional Signage
Directional Signage is useful within an educational environment and, to ensure accessibility throughout your facility, this signage should be clear and easy to understand. The only design elements that should appear on this sign are text, arrows, and a small graphic that indicates where they are going in order to accommodate those who may have difficulty reading. This is a great way to make visitors feel comfortable on your site as it takes away any stress that may come alongside entering a new environment such as getting lost.
Building Signs
These are especially beneficial for larger facilities with several buildings, as they aid in navigation. These signs should provide the building's name as well as any other vital information, such as departments and room numbers. Within a school environment each subject may have its own building and if this is the case these should be clearly labelled and correlated to students timetables to make navigating the facility even easier.
Informational Signs
Signs providing any other pieces of information should be placed in high traffic areas and should grab people's attention whilst still ensuring that the information you are trying to display is clear and easy to read. These could be plaques in the car park for reserved spaces or A frames in other areas around the site to share relevant pieces of information such as upcoming dates or events or school rules that must be followed.
Safety Signage
This includes the basic safety signage that should be installed in an educational facility, such as clearly posted fire exits and maps of the site's evacuation spots. Any road safety signs that include features such as informing people of the speed limit are additionally regarded as safety signage. Evacuation, fire and cctv signage should be featured both internally and externally throughout your site with the inclusion of site maps.
Use of Interior Signage in Schools
Interior signage is best used throughout your facility to provide further information to those already present. This type of signage can be utilised to create a welcoming and safe environment that encourages learning and respect. Design and signpost placement should be carefully addressed to ensure optimal efficiency. But what are the different types of Interior signage and how could your education facility utilise them?
Wayfinding
Within your school's buildings, there should be plenty of signage indicating which direction each of the room numbers, departments, or offices are, as well as signage indicating the position of any nearby restrooms. The facility should be simple to navigate in order to ensure that students are timely and come to class on time. Ensuring that the signage aligns with what is featured on student timetables - for example if the timetable uses building codes these should be clearly visible to students.
Room Identification Signs
This form of signage can help to avoid any tense or uncomfortable situations that may emerge as a result of entering the wrong room or being confused of where you are supposed to be. Room Identification signs can also be a great way to encourage independence within your school, allowing students to safely and successfully navigate around the facility in a timely manner. Avoiding stressful situations is a terrific way to foster a happy and healthy working atmosphere for everyone involved.
Safety Signage
Interior safety signs include properly marked and displayed fire alarms and exits; if they are visible to those nearby, all persons within the building ought to be aware of where to go in the event of an emergency. It is also critical to provide a map that shows these exits as well as the evacuation points surrounding the facility.
Informational Signage
Signage displaying timetables, maps, and current events or achievements should be put in busy areas of the facility to provide this important information to students. An excellent approach for this would be digital signage, which can be kept up to date and present students, employees, and visitors with real-time information. This is also a great way to help students stay in touch with not only school events but also real world occurrences.
Wall Graphics
Wall graphics can be used to promote study and spread the school's mission in addition to making a space more visually appealing. These graphics can be utilised as learning tools, such as in a primary school classroom where alphabet or numeral wall graphics can be placed and used in teaching practices.
Ready to take the next step? Contact us today at 01604 422650 or visit our website at www.fastsigns.co.uk/northampton to learn more about how we can help you. Together, we can achieve more than you ever thought possible. Upgrade your school's image and create a lasting impression with FASTSIGNS Northampton.