WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
Once had a tenant think the “no smoking” sign was a “no campfires” symbol...
That’s classic. I’ve seen similar confusion on job sites—one time, a subcontractor thought the “hard hat required” sign was about construction helmets only, not bump caps, so he just wore his baseball cap and called it good. The thing is, even with both words and icons, there’s always someone who interprets it differently. I get why designers love clean visuals, but honestly, when you’re dealing with the public (and not just other designers or architects), clarity has to come first.
I’m convinced that most signage is designed in a vacuum. It’s like they forget that people don’t all process information the same way. You can have the most elegant icon in the world, but if it doesn’t instantly make sense to someone who’s tired, distracted, or speaks another language, it’s basically useless. I’d argue that testing with real users isn’t just helpful—it should be non-negotiable. You wouldn’t build a house without checking if the doors actually open and close, right? Same logic.
But here’s where I might push back a bit: sometimes adding more words doesn’t help either. Too much text and people tune out or miss the point entirely. There’s a sweet spot between over-explaining and being too abstract. Maybe we need to accept that no sign will ever be 100% universal, but we can at least get closer by involving actual end users in the process—folks from different backgrounds, ages, and literacy levels.
Honestly, some of the best signs I’ve seen are hand-drawn ones on site—big arrow, simple word like “OFFICE,” and maybe a smiley face for good measure. Not fancy, but nobody gets lost. Maybe there’s something to be said for ditching perfection and just making things as obvious as possible... even if it looks a little rough around the edges.
WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
Honestly, some of the best signs I’ve seen are hand-drawn ones on site—big arrow, simple word like “OFFICE,” and maybe a smiley face for good measure. Not fancy, but nobody gets lost.
That’s so true. I remember touring a high-end property once where the “pool” sign was this sleek, backlit thing with just a wave icon. Gorgeous, but my guests thought it was pointing to the spa or even the laundry room. Sometimes you need that big, bold “POOL →” in marker on cardboard to actually get people where they want to go. Design is great, but if it doesn’t work for everyone, what’s the point?
WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
I’ve run into this a lot on job sites. Fancy signs look great in photos, but when you’re hauling lumber or trying to direct a delivery driver, clarity wins every time. I get that design matters, but if someone has to stop and guess what the sign means, it’s not doing its job. Sometimes I’ll just grab a marker and cardboard myself—quick, clear, and nobody’s confused. Maybe there’s a middle ground, but honestly, function should come first.
“Sometimes I’ll just grab a marker and cardboard myself—quick, clear, and nobody’s confused.”
I’ve done the exact same thing on site—sometimes you just need “STAIRS THIS WAY” in big black letters and nothing fancy. I get where designers are coming from, wanting things to look sharp and professional, but when you’ve got folks from all kinds of backgrounds (and maybe not all fluent in English) wandering through a build, legibility’s gotta come first.
There’s actually some cool stuff happening with universal design—icons, color coding, even tactile signs. I saw a site once where they used simple shapes and bright colors, and it was wild how much smoother everything ran. Not saying we should ditch all style, but you can make a sign look good and still keep it dead simple.
I do wish more companies would think about accessibility. Not just for the trades, but for anyone who walks by. Signs that work for everyone? Feels like a win for safety and sanity.
TITLE: Universal Signs Make Life Easier (And Less Stressful)
That’s exactly what I ran into when we were building our place—there were signs everywhere, but most of them were either tiny, buried in jargon, or just plain hard to read. I get the urge to make things look “architectural” or match the brand or whatever, but when you’re trying to figure out if the bathroom’s down the hall or behind a stack of drywall, all you want is a giant arrow and maybe a stick figure. It’s not rocket science.
I actually think the fancy, over-designed signs sometimes make things worse. Like, do I really need a sleek cursive font telling me where the exit is? On one site, someone put up a handwritten “Caution: Floor Wet” on a pizza box lid, and honestly, that was more useful than half the official signage. It just cut through the noise.
You mentioned icons and color coding—totally agree that’s the way to go. I don’t know why more places don’t use simple symbols and bold colors. You’d think with all the talk about inclusivity these days, it’d be standard. And it’s not just about people who don’t speak English. My parents visited once during construction, and even though they speak the language, they were still confused by all the construction lingo. A big blue arrow is universal.
I do wonder, though, if there’s a balance. Like, I get the argument that everything should look “put together,” especially in public spaces or when the project’s done. But during the messy, chaotic phases? Give me cardboard and a fat marker any day. Maybe there ought to be some kind of “temporary but accessible” sign kit for builds—cheap, bright, no-nonsense.
Anyway, I’m all in on making signs for real people, not just for show. If it helps one person not get lost or trip over something, that’s a win.
