Signage & Wayfinding Design

Signage and wayfinding designers create systems helping people navigate spaces - hospitals, corporate campuses, airports, museums, retail complexes, and cities.

Work includes information hierarchy, sign location planning, design systems, typography, materials specification, and ADA compliance.

Success requires strategic thinking about human navigation, graphic design skills, understanding materials and fabrication, and accessibility knowledge.

Pricing ranges from $5,000-20,000 for small building wayfinding to $50,000-300,000+ for complex campus or municipal systems.

Projects involve site analysis, user research, strategy development, design system creation, documentation, and fabrication coordination.

Startup costs include design software, understanding sign fabrication and materials, accessibility knowledge, portfolio development, and professional memberships totaling $4,000-12,000.

Building client base involves portfolio showcasing implemented systems, networking with architects and developers, municipal connections, healthcare and education facility managers, and potentially SEGD (Society for Experiential Graphic Design) membership.

Revenue comes from design fees, project management fees, and potentially fabrication coordination.

Operating costs include software, continuing education on accessibility and materials, professional memberships, and travel to sites.

Challenges include balancing aesthetics with function, strict accessibility requirements, budget constraints, and coordinating with architects and contractors.

Success requires understanding human wayfinding psychology, expertise in ADA and accessibility requirements, knowledge of sign materials and fabrication, and strategic thinking about information architecture beyond just designing pretty signs.