How Architectural Signage Can Enhance Your Building

What is architectural signage?

Architectural signage refers to any sign that is added to the building's design. The term sounds vague but is often used to refer to a wide variety of large format graphics, including vinyl signs, 3-Dimensional store names, logos, welcome signs, large printed and framed photographs, advertisements, directional and wayfinding signs, wall and window murals, and room labels. The art of architectural signs is weaving together the colors, logos, fonts, and graphics to create a cohesive branded space while maintaining the functionality of the signage.

Almost all large buildings need architectural signage to look professional and accessible. Beyond the basic identity and reception signs outside, large format wall graphics can add character to indoor areas. These graphics can be installed anywhere and are a fast and affordable way to revamp a building's appearance and attract more visitors. Custom printed vinyl can transform the appearance of a plain white canvas to a bold, eye-catching mural or to a more upscale look of stained wood or brick. Smaller buildings can also use a variety of signs to define themselves and stand out.

Why use architectural signage?

Brand Advertisement

Large, printed logos or branded wall graphics are a great way to further your company's presence and display what matters most to your team and your customers. Think of your go-to fast food restaurant or supermarket. 3-Dimensional signs on the exterior of a building are an important way for businesses to catch the public eye and help potential customers navigate to the right place. McDonalds and Walmart are classic examples of the powerful marketing potential of exterior architectural signs. However, you don’t want to lose that visual appeal once your customers step inside of your space. With the ability to blend logos, short sentences, colorful artwork, or other graphics into the building design, the overall effect can be anything from attention-grabbing to awe-inspiring to humorous.

Positive Messages

Apart from advertising, well-chosen wall decor graphics can hugely influence the feel of a space. Adding positive messages and refreshing art to the walls of a room can change the experience of being in that space, whether for a meal or a meeting. Bathrooms, hallways and entranceways that often feel bland can become places of inspiration. For example, a favorite quote or “keep calm and carry on” message could be installed. In this way, architectural signage can contribute to cheerful workers and smiling guests.

The Experience of Visitors

Have you ever entered a large building to find yourself in a virtual maze of hallways, rooms and atriums? What about having no idea where to find the bathroom? Wall graphics and dimensional signs for a business or large building can make visiting the site a much smoother and enjoyable experience. Navigating the space, especially for newcomers, can be made much simpler with directional and wayfinding signage. Providing easy to follow directions and labeling rooms, doors, floor numbers and common areas can put a guest at ease as they know they are in the right place.

Where can it be placed?

Indoors

Custom wall graphics and signs come in whatever size and shape best suits your interior design. Imagine a mural of your team with a large logo enhancing the entryway, or perhaps a smaller photo adorning the board room. A dull visit to the bathroom can be transformed into a much more memorable experience with the intelligent use of wall graphics. If your business has an outdoor flavor, abstract art styled mountains as restroom wallpaper could keep guests immersed in your brand throughout their visit. Floor to ceiling murals, an intricate strip at shoulder height, a small door design, or outfitted elevators are also great ways to add to a building's indoor ambiance.

Outdoors

The range of materials used in architectural signs means that they can be placed outdoors. Specific materials are produced to stand turbulent weather or consistent high temperatures without losing color or shape. Furthermore, outdoor wall graphics require low maintenance. You can often remove stains with something as simple as soap and water. A large building's presence and, by extension, the brand's familiarity and trust can all be increased by outdoor architectural signs. A building with a large, printed mural of an iconic local symbol, team, or figure can become a local landmark through original custom wall graphics.

Big and Small

Architectural signs can be printed to fit any situation. From small door designs to multi-story masterpieces, wall decor graphics know no limits. Many graphics can be designed to blend in with the surface they are being imposed on, giving them a high-level appearance. For example, if the exterior of the building is brick, an attention-grabbing vinyl sign can be printed to appear as if it is breaking through the brick wall. On the interior, an interactive timeline of growth or the corporation's history can be created along an entire hallway.

How is it installed?

After a sign is prepared, installation is generally a quick and orderly operation. There's no need to stress over pausing business as normal or having construction work ruining the outward appearance of the entire building. No construction interruption is a great bonus compared to a longer-term remodeling project.

Building renovations can also take a large bite out of the budget. In comparison, large format wall graphics are relatively inexpensive. This, combined with the greater range of creativity offered, makes graphics a great alternative to a pricier full-scale construction project. The exterior or interior of your building can take on a new and improved presence basically overnight.

Conclusion

Whether it's a business building, university, hotel, large venue, cafe, or outlet, architectural signage will add character and value to your brand and the experience visitors have while at the location. Custom vinyl signs achieve this through impressive wall art, navigational aid and expressing the building's purpose more distinctly. Architectural signs can be added to all types of building's interiors and exteriors, require little maintenance, and can easily be switched out to new designs. For the value they create, they are dependably inexpensive and quick to install. What could an architectural sign add to your building and brand?