When creating visual cues for public spaces, waiting areas, or carpeted office buildings, messaging and needs may differ from the requirements on the manufacturing floor or within a warehouse. In industrial locations where members of the public may visit, messages must be clear—but production floor visual cues won’t provide the same information to visitors as it does fully trained employees. To improve your overall communication strategy, consider the floor markings and signs you use in your waiting areas, offices, and public spaces.
Navigational Cues for Visitors
While graphics and text can provide clear instructions, sometimes less is more. Don’t overwhelm visitors with too many cues. Instead, pair floor signs and markings that include instructions or graphics with simple shapes to help them find their way. Use pre-cut floor markers in a variety of shapes—including arrows, footprints, or dashes—to aid in navigation.
You may find that color-coding arrows or lines can improve navigation: Signage—or a receptionist—can instruct visitors to follow the green line for Department A or the yellow line for Department B, and so on.
When applying navigational cues, ensure you don’t leave visitors stranded. If the lines end abruptly or a turn isn’t clearly marked, people may get confused or lose their way. Always pair your lines and shapes with clear signage at regular intervals—extra visual cues where hallways turn or split, “Employees Only” or other safety reminders, and clear emergency exit signage.
Office Organization Methods
Improve organization in the office with floor marking tape or carpet tape. Ensure employees remember their PPE—goggles, hearing protection, helmets, or other safety gear—before crossing back into a production area by using floor markings with text and graphics.
Visual cues can help improve supply areas and storage spaces, too. Keep office supplies in order with shelf labels—magnetic labels can be swapped easily when necessary. Labeling designated spaces ensures staff can find what they need and items are returned to their intended location, and also makes it easier to keep an eye on supply stock so the office manager can reorder before you’re out.
Reserved Seating at Venues
Whether in the reception area, at a theater, in a community gathering space, or an auditorium, clearly marking reserved seating lets the intended guests know where to sit—and prevents someone from inadvertently taking a reserved seat. These reserved seating indicators may come in many forms depending on the location, but some common options include:
- Floor marking tape in a specific color to coordinate with a ticket number
- Custom floor signs—which can double as advertisements for seats reserved for a sponsor or supporter—may be used in sports arenas, auditoriums, and other public venues
- Floor marking signs with letters or numbers that correspond with a seating assignment can be used long-term to communicate seating information, without having to change messaging between events.
Promotional Graphics and Messaging
Shopping mall hallways, car dealerships, grocery aisles, product showrooms—these are some locations where floor signs may increase interest in brands, discounts, or other offers. Floor signs put the promotion directly in front of the customers, improving overall awareness of a sale or offer, which can provide a sales boost. Custom street graphics can be used to advertise in parking lots and garages, while custom signs and banners can draw attention to products, events, or promotions.
Reminders and Requirements
Streamline your queues: Remind people to have their identification ready, direct them to the appropriate line, or provide a clear understanding of processes with floor markings that provide important information ahead of time. Designate separate lines for people who have an appointment versus people who do not, offer gentle reminders that all paperwork must be complete before they get in line, or provide information about the next steps in the process with floor marking tape and signs. If visitors come to pick up orders or products, ensure that it’s clear which is the correct area to do so. While much of this information can be communicated during pre-visit contact, a little reminder can help visitors understand what is needed.
Visual Cues for Communal Spaces
Share policies that may be in place with visitors—from no outside food or drink to hand-washing reminders—using custom signs and floor tape. Whether designating a restroom line or keeping fast food queues in order, floor markings can keep people organized while they wait. Location-specific requirements, such as “Service Animals Only” or “No Strollers Beyond This Point” can communicate important safety and building policy information. The clearer the instructions are, the easier it is for visitors to follow the rules.
Removable Tape for Temporary Messages
Consider the benefits of carpet tape when creating a floor marking plan. If you host recurring events—such as community gatherings, fundraisers, job fairs, or other occasional activities—reusable floor markings may go easy on both time and budget. Custom or pre-printed floor markings that can be applied in moments to make event-day set-up easy, and improve communication for visitors who attend. Direct visitors to the registration table, seating, refreshments, or demonstrations with carpet floor signs with removable, reusable hook and loop fastener backing.
Traffic Control and Parking Areas
Keep parking lots safe and congestion-free with visual cues for traffic control, too. Communication doesn’t stop just because the visitor has left the building. Let them know where to park, provide directional cues to keep traffic flowing, and clearly mark crosswalks, pedestrian zones, and handicap spaces. The two main options for visual communication in parking areas are pavement marking tape or stencils and paint. Consider the amount of traffic, weather conditions, and specific needs for your parking lot to determine which parking lot markings are best for you.
Public spaces require appropriate visual cues to keep visitors safe and to provide adequate directions or instructions. Floor marking tape and signs can improve navigation, provide instructions, and help reduce hazards. Explore our Resource Center for more visual communication tips.
