Issues to Consider
A Design Planning Activity
The hallways of hospitals and other health care facilities have many directional and informational signs. In addition to intended information, signs may convey unintended information. The types of signs used can also contribute to the tone or atmosphere of the facility.
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| Are signs welcoming to families? Do they set a negative or positive tone? Do they convey clear or confusing messages? This sign labels families as visitors; the rules for "visiting" posted at unit entrance are visual barriers for families wanting to spend time with their children; this conveys mixed messages in an emergency department and would be confusing to many families. |
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At Cook Children's Medical Center in Ft. Worth, Texas, a cartoon character helps illustrate facility locations, helpful for those for whom English is not their primary language. Attractive lettering and supportive language are used in this sign in the lobby of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Family perceptions were important to designers creating the signage for Newborn Intensive Care at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. |
The following exercise will help staff, designers, and health care consumers develop an appreciation for the information and broader messages that signs convey to patients and families. It will also help in making thoughtful decisions about new signage in a facility.
EXERCISE: With an interdisciplinary group, including professionals, patients and families, take a tour of the signs in the hospital or clinic—from the parking and other entry areas to and throughout the inpatient units and ambulatory care spaces. Follow wayfinding cues, do not rely on previous knowledge of the facility.
This walking tour will encourage staff and designers to read signs with fresh eyes - the eyes of patients and families. Record everyone's comments in any of several ways: a) developing a narrative list of observations and comments; b) using slides with narrative description; c) tape recording and transcribing a walking tour; or d) producing a short documentary video with narration.
When looking at signage, consider the following:
Choice of words
Read for the implicit as well as the explicit message. Is the wording clear to someone coming
into the facility for the first time? To someone who is dealing with stressful circumstances?
Positively worded messages
Consider what values are being conveyed through the words? Are the messages family-centered
or hospital-centered? Inclusive or exclusive? Welcoming or restrictive? Do the signs convey
the message that families are central within this environment or that families are seen as visitors?
Number of words
Are the words on a sign all necessary to get the message across? Is too much information on any
of the signs? Are there other ways besides written signs to get the information out to families
and visitors?
Use of pictures and symbols
Could the message be conveyed in pictures or symbols? This is especially relevant for
units where children are patients and frequent visitors or where there is a large non-English
speaking population.
Languages of families within the community
If messages need to be in written form, does signage represent the languages spoken by
people within the community?
Visual interest, color, and lettering
Do the designs and graphics incorporated into signs help set a positive tone for the unit? Are
the colors inviting? Do they convey warmth or do they set a harsh, stark tone? Is the lettering
attractive, easy to read, and welcoming?
Compatibility with other features of interiors
Is there a design theme and/or color scheme for corridors, entryways, and patient care
areas that can guide signage design?
Placement of signs on walls, ceilings, doorways
Are the signs placed so that they are easy to see and read by all? Does the placement
of the signs assist in wayfinding?
Number of signs in any location
Multiple signs may add to the confusion for patients and families. Is it possible to
minimize the number of signs? Are there other ways to convey information?
Flexibility
Do the design and placement of signs allow for future changes?
Patients and Families as Advisors »