WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
I get what you mean about the sign overload. Walked into a new office building last month, and I swear, it was like being in Times Square—arrows, warnings, “Do Not Enter,” “This Way to Reception,” and then, tucked behind a plant, a tiny “Restrooms” sign. I had to laugh.
Here’s the thing though—what seems totally obvious when you’re knee-deep in a project just isn’t for someone seeing it fresh. I’ve seen clients get lost in spaces I thought were basically foolproof. But there’s got to be a middle ground, right? Too many signs and nobody reads them. Too few and everyone’s wandering around like it’s a corn maze.
Honestly, I’m skeptical that we can ever design something that works for literally everyone. People just tune stuff out after a point. Maybe the trick is less about more signs and more about smarter placement or better design? Just my two cents... sometimes less really is more, but only if you do it right.
WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not convinced it’s all about smarter design or placement. Sometimes, people just don’t pay attention, no matter what you do. I’ve built a few houses and done some renos for friends, and you’d be surprised how many folks walk right past a big, bold “Caution: Wet Paint” sign and still end up with green streaks on their pants. Doesn’t matter if the sign’s neon or has a cartoon on it—some people just don’t look.
Honestly, I think part of the problem is we assume signs can do all the work. In my experience, layout matters as much as signage. If you need a dozen arrows to get to the bathroom, maybe the hallway’s too confusing in the first place. Sometimes it’s not about more or better signs—it’s about making spaces that are just easier to figure out without needing a roadmap taped to every wall.
Not saying signs aren’t important, but I wouldn’t bet on any design working for “everyone.” Some folks just have tunnel vision...
WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
You nailed it with layout being just as important as signage. I’ve seen some luxury builds where the design is so intuitive you barely need a sign at all—everything just kind of flows and makes sense. But then you visit some high-end places with a maze of hallways and tiny plaques, and even the fanciest signs don’t help.
I do wonder, though, how much of this comes down to habit. People get used to ignoring signs because they’re everywhere—sort of like ad blindness online. If every sign was perfectly clear and in-your-face, would folks just tune them out even more? Or would it actually make a difference if every single sign was designed for universal understanding? Curious if anyone’s seen a place that actually got this right...
WHAT IF ALL SIGNS WERE DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE TO READ?
I keep coming back to this with my own place. When we were building, I thought about putting up those cute little “pantry” and “laundry” signs, but honestly, I realized if someone can’t find the laundry room in a house with only six doors, a label probably isn’t going to help much. It’s funny—sometimes less is more, right? Like, the best design just sort of guides you without needing to yell at you with a sign.
But then again, I’ve been in airports where the signage is so clear and consistent that you can’t possibly get lost (unless you’re me before coffee). Everything’s color-coded, big fonts, icons—super straightforward. That’s one of the few times I’ve seen universal signage actually work. But even there, if you’re rushing or distracted, you still miss stuff. Maybe there’s only so much a sign can do before it just blends into the scenery.
I kind of agree with the “ad blindness” thing. When you see signs everywhere—especially those tiny gold ones in fancy lobbies—you just stop noticing them. It almost feels like there’s a sweet spot: enough signage that people can find what they need, but not so much that it turns into wallpaper. And honestly, if the layout is intuitive, you barely need signs at all.
I guess for public spaces where tons of different people are passing through (like hospitals or airports), universal design makes sense. But in smaller or private spaces? Sometimes a good floor plan is worth way more than any amount of signage.
It almost feels like there’s a sweet spot: enough signage that people can find what they need, but not so much that it turns into wallpaper.
This hits home for me. I once worked on a boutique hotel lobby where the owner wanted signs for literally everything—“Reception,” “Lounge,” “Restrooms,” even “Elevator” right above the elevator doors. It ended up looking like a train station, and guests still asked staff for directions. We eventually pared it back and focused on lighting and sightlines instead. Funny how people just *felt* their way around after that. Sometimes the space itself should do the talking, you know?
