TITLE: What If All Signs Were Designed For Everyone To Read?
I get what you’re saying about visual cues, but I’m not totally convinced color coding or symbols always work better. In some high-end homes I’ve toured, designers tried to use subtle icons instead of words, and honestly, it just confused guests more than it helped. Maybe it’s about balance? Too much minimalism and people miss the point, too much text and they tune out. Has anyone actually seen a system that nails this? I feel like there’s always someone left scratching their head.
Maybe it’s about balance? Too much minimalism and people miss the point, too much text and they tune out.
I’ve run into this a bunch on projects where clients want that “sleek look” and ask for just icons or super subtle signage. It looks cool in photos, but then you get folks wandering around asking where the powder room is. Honestly, the best results I’ve seen mix a simple icon with a clear word—like a little faucet plus “Bath.” Not groundbreaking, but it keeps things obvious without killing the vibe. Minimalism’s great until someone can’t find the light switch...
Minimalism’s great until someone can’t find the light switch...
That’s exactly it. I’ve had clients insist on “invisible” signage, and then get frustrated when people keep asking for directions. Here’s how I usually approach it: 1) Identify the essential info—what do people actually need to know? 2) Use both icon and text, like you mentioned. 3) Test it with someone who’s never been in the space. If they hesitate even a second, it’s back to the drawing board.
Curious—has anyone tried color-coding as part of the signage? Sometimes that helps, but I wonder if it just adds another layer of confusion for some folks.
Color-coding can be a double-edged sword, honestly. I once worked on a school renovation where we used colored stripes on the walls to guide people—blue for classrooms, green for offices, etc. It worked for most, but a couple of parents with colorblindness mentioned it was useless for them. Ever since, I’ve been a little wary about relying on color alone. Maybe it works best as a backup, not the main thing? Curious how others have handled that balance...
Maybe it works best as a backup, not the main thing?
Totally agree—color’s handy, but I’ve seen folks get tripped up by it too. In my last house project, I added icons and text labels alongside colors for storage bins. My kids still mixed things up, but at least it wasn’t because of colorblindness...
