Adam Woodworth, Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn
Sally Edwards, Marbles Kids Museum and IMAX Theatre
Alissa Rupp, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, MIG | Portico
In this mock-trial format presenters discussed the pros and cons of museum signage (with the plaintiff as against signs and defense as pro-signage). Great theatrics and knowledgeable presenters made for an awesome session with an extremely engaged audience standing in as the jury!'
Pros of signage:
-Enhance guest experiences by managing expectations
-Opportunities to-
educate
inspire
assist
serve multilingual population by utilizing universal language symbols
-Provide wayfinding
-Can be integrated as a holistic design allowing visibility of access points & necessities (restrooms! lockers! exits!)
-Can assist with guest flow and movement through exhibits
-Allow for adaptable content (especially dynamic signage utilizing tech)
-Allows visitors to customize experiences
-Creates visual organization & may inspire visitor's confidence in the space
**from a practical standpoint, I think a potential pro may also be an opportunity to provide signage for base communication vs. a staff member. If playing devil's advocate, this could also be considered a negative point.
Cons of signage
-Poor signs may diminish guest experience
-Potentially confusing
-distract from other visual opportunities
Guiding Principles for Museum Signage-
Intuitive Design
On-brand
People focused
Responsible
Flexible
Managed
Signage can exist for multiple purposes and may be called upon to help communicate many things to guests. The presenters provided examples in three different areas of signage- (apologies in advance for washed out photos- the lighting in the room was not great for slide visibility)
1. First Impressions-too much info is NOT your friend!
2. Behavior Expectations - example of a very memorable sign; however, not very user friendly!
3. Opportunities to Educate - example of a great sign!
Basic design principles including color contrasts, appropriate fonts, etc. were also discussed.
-High contrast colors GOOD
-Small fonts, slender italics BAD (especially if inappropriate sizing in relation to exhibit/area)
A number of options were presented, heavily skewing to the "what not to do" side Presenters also offered some pathways to "rehabilitate" poor signage :)
One of the great points I enjoyed from this session was a discussion about the need to create signs for inclusion- this may mean providing universal language, gender anti-bias when naming exhibits, and an understanding of potential guest vocabulary. A great opportunity to consider how our practices may influence guest or patron experiences in our spaces!
-Rina
This great - thank you Rina! I totally agree signage and graphics are a BIG deal - thank goodness for Carol! Nothing irks me more than a sign that does not serve it's purpose (or power point slide) - too small or difficult to read font, too many words, bad graphics. I may not have the right artists (thank you graphic design!) but I think we can all tell if something is "bad" or could use a little help. Thanks again R!
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