Conference centres tend to be large buildings with multiple rooms or areas and lots of facilities. That’s why adding the right signs around them is very important for people to feel confident as they move around. These signs can range from showing where the nearest toilet is to helping people find their way from the car park. Let’s look at some examples.
What is the purpose of signs?
Signs in conference centres can be similar to signs on streets or other buildings. There are a few different categories that have different purposes and therefore often different signs.
Wayfinding and directional signs are the first types of signs you should add. These are key to help people get around the building and find those important areas – like the toilets! They can also be used to help the flow of people through the building by directing them from one area to another.
Health and safety signs are also legal requirements that tell people key information that is needed to use the building safely. Examples can be emergency exits, firefighting equipment and fire doors.
Advertising and marketing signs are then added depending on the event taking place. These can advertise the event, the type of vendors involved as well as the individual vendors themselves. These usually change with the event unless there are resident vendors.
Types of wayfinding signs
After health and safety signs, wayfinding or directional signs are the most important for a conference centre to put into place. These are the signs that are used every day to get around the centre and find the various features and facilities.
Identification signs
Identification signs are used to let people know where specific parts of the building are rather than offering directions on how to get there. Examples of these can include:
- Identifying specific rooms such as toilets, break rooms and different conference areas
- Offering a ‘you are here’ map to help with planning where visitors need to go
- Showing where entry and exit points are located
Direction signs
As the name suggests, direction signs are aimed at showing people where to go within the conference centre and to find key facilities. Examples include:
- Entry guidance showing where the main areas of the centre are with arrows
- Signs in lifts showing what’s on each floor
- Basic direction signs
Information signs
Information signs provide extra details about features and facilities in the centre to help visitors during their visit. Examples include:
- Free Wi-Fi area
- Where to find a lift or escalator
- Where to find an information point
Regulatory signs
Regulatory signs are similar to health and safety signs and tell people how to safely and legally use the building. Examples include:
- No smoking signs
- Safety precaution signs for staff
- Direction information in parking areas such as ‘no entry’
Conference centre sign tips
When designing signs for conference centres, it is good to use bright colours to help people easily spot the signs and get the information. A clear and legible font is also important, so the information is easy to read. Considering using small snippets of information in many signs and create a chain of signs directing people to where they need to be.