Meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage
Wayfinding signage is only truly effective when it is meaningfully accessible. Good signage empowers people to navigate spaces independently and confidently. Poorly designed signage, however, can create barriers, confusion, and frustration, especially for people with disabilities. Meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage is not about simply meeting minimum standards. It is about intentionally designing signage that works for everyone.
Through my years of professional experience developing and improving accessible wayfinding signage, I have seen how critical thoughtful, user-centred design is, and how often important steps are missed. In this post, I will share five often overlooked practices that can help create truly meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage systems.
1. Involve people with lived experience of disability throughout the process
Accessibility cannot be achieved through checklists alone. The most valuable insights come from people with lived experience of disability – “Nothing about us without us.”
To create signage that truly works, it’s essential to involve individuals with diverse disabilities from the very beginning and throughout the project. Engage them at every key stage: planning, design, testing, and post-installation review. When you work alongside people with lived experience, you begin to see wayfinding barriers through their eyes and uncover solutions you might otherwise miss.
2. Design with intention: every detail matters
Details determine usability. A sign that appears accessible can quickly fail if small design elements, like those listed below, are overlooked.
Colour contrast: Strong colour contrast must hold up under real-world conditions. Use glare-resistant materials and effective design combinations, but also consider the installation environment. For example, vegetation or a coloured wall behind the sign can affect how contrast is perceived, and may make otherwise accessible signage difficult to read.
Font selection: Font choice plays a critical role in readability. Use clear, sans-serif fonts that are large enough to read comfortably. Avoid decorative or handwritten styles, which can be hard to understand. For signs with longer text, capitalize only the first letter of the sentence. WORDS IN ALL CAPS are harder to read for everyone.
Braille: Braille is a language, not a decoration, and it only supports accessibility when it is accurate and properly formatted. Position Braille properly so that blind people can easily locate it. Make sure there are no sharp edges on the sign that could injure someone’s fingers. Always proofread the Braille before and after production – just as you would with any other text.
3. Place signage where it works for everyone
Even the best-designed signage can fail if it is installed in the wrong place. When placing signage, be sure to consider less obvious factors such as:
- Clear floor space in front of the sign, so people using mobility devices can approach it without barriers.
- Visibility from key decision points, like entrances or hallway intersections, so people can notice the sign when deciding which direction to take.
- Lighting conditions around signs – ensure nearby light fixtures do not create glare or cast shadows that make signage difficult to read.
4. Remember, wayfinding isn’t just signage
People navigate in different ways. A successful wayfinding system includes more than physical signs. The following additional cues help support a wider range of needs and make navigation more inclusive.
- Tactile walking surface indicators (TWSIs): These raised patterns on the ground help people with vision loss detect key points like intersections, stairs, and platform edges.
- Sensory cues: Non-visual elements can enhance orientation. Examples include floor textures and biophilic features (such as green walls or water fountains) that help people identify and memorize specific pathways or areas.
- Landmarks: Recognizable features, such as public art, plazas, or unique architectural elements, can serve as reference points and improve spatial orientation, especially in large or complex environments.
5. Prioritize ongoing maintenance
Accessible wayfinding signage is not a one-time achievement. Signs may lose effectiveness due to dirt, damage, fading, vandalism, or blocked visibility. Regular inspections should be part of your facility’s maintenance plan. Establishing a clear maintenance schedule and providing an easy, accessible way for users to report damaged or missing signage are essential to keeping your wayfinding system functional over the long term.
Wayfinding signage must also be updated to reflect the changes to the built environment – whether it’s a relocated office, a redesigned pathway, or a temporary construction site. Outdated signage can confuse users, reduce trust in the system, and create unnecessary frustration. Build signage updates into your maintenance schedule to ensure accessibility keeps pace as your spaces evolve.
Conclusion
Delivering meaningful, accessible wayfinding signage requires more than meeting minimum standards. It is a continuous commitment to inclusion. When done well, it empowers everyone to move through spaces independently, safely, and with confidence.
To learn more about accessible signage, visit the Accessibility Standards Canada website and stay tuned for the upcoming public review of CAN-ASC-2.4 Wayfinding and Signage, expected later this year.
Cliff Feng (he/him) is an accessibility consultant and a certified Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Professional, specializing in accessibility in the built environment, accessible wayfinding and signage, and accessibility assessments.
He was one of the first members of the Universal Access Team at Vancouver Island University. He also serves as the Signage Task Group Lead on the Technical Committee for Wayfinding and Signage with Accessibility Standards Canada, and as a Mirror Committee Member of ISO Technical Committee 145 on public information symbols, signs and guidance system.