Interior office signage can create a subtle ambiance within the work area for office personal and visitors alike. Indeed, while the motif of the right office signage may not necessarily be responsible for the “first impression” that a visitor receives, it can certainly enhance or detract from the “second impression” the visitor soon gets once inside the office.
Why go to the expense of producing a catchy, artistic state of the art office sign outside when the office signs inside the building tell another, less desirable story?
Just like worn-out shoes on a sales person, if the signs on the doors of the various offices are “dated” in their appearance – or even in need of repair –a visitor will instantly feel that this is not the company with which he or she wants to do business. A visitor will get the impression that the company is either too revenue poor to replace or maintain the simple signs on the door, or that the people in the company just do not care. That is why signage for the office is so important to the image of a company – it affects what the potential clients that visit an office think of a company as well as how the employees in the work place feel about whom they work for. Moreover, that “feeling” in the workplace is just as important because it is money.
Most people do not like living in a house that is in need of repair, i.e.; the leaking faucet in the bathroom, the doorbell that only works half of the time and sounds like a dying animal when it actual does work, the “sticking” door in the hall closet. Most people like to live in a house where these little things are repaired and maintained. It is a matter of pride – self-respect.
The same is true in the work environment. Employees want to feel the pride of working in an office run by a company that cares enough to provide a professional, comfortable work environment. Walking past the main conference room office door sign that is cracked or has a couple of letters missing in “Conference Room” does not instill a sense of pride, especially when the discussion inside the conference room is centered around how to best go after that multi-million dollar account that the competition currently holds – the competition that has those nice, new, tastefully appointed offices across town; the competition that has been sniffing around the office trying to lure employees away.
The fact is it does not take much to update, repair, or replace office door signs. Take the conference room as an example; a basic door or wall sign that says “Conference Room” in a brushed metallic face that is framed in a black architectural metal trim could be purchased for as little as $30. Choose the same basic style in a “sliding” design that can indicate either “Available” or “In Session” with its sliding feature and the price is only about $45 – or perhaps $55 or $60 if choosing a more customized design that might include the company logo.
Surprisingly, full color office names plates and office signs are not much more expensive to purchase than single color nameplates and office signs. Yet, the full color signs, usually incorporating the logo of the company near the employee name or office designation, do provide a much richer look to the office – a feeling of permanence and that of an established entity. At the same time, a directory containing up to six listings beneath as custom color print of the company logo on a brushed metallic face is less that $190 and can give a quick layout to the visitor of the medium size office they have just entered.
Another consideration within the office place is the use of ADA Braille signs. Under the law, permanent architectural structures are required to have ADA approved signage placed in the building at stairways, at and inside elevators, next to restrooms and near smoking areas. Most offices within a building get around the requirement of placing ADA signage because the offices are considered not to be part of the permanent architecture of the building. They are often “build outs” that the owner of the building has done for the tenants of the building and, therefore, can be changed whenever the lease is up or the tenant’s needs change.
However, some companies, sensitive to their employees with disabilities will have ADA Braille signs placed within their office space – even if they are not required to do so.
Replacing the entire office interior with the uniformed look of customized office signage that incorporates the company logo will not only tie the overall effect to the “first impression” – that outdoor company sign that greets everyone as they approach the office – it will also increase employee morale and pride.