5/12/2024
International airports are crucial for global business. However, getting the design wrong, can also be a global headache. The internet is full of lists of the worst airport designs, and it’s no surprise that poor wayfinding signage is a frequent pain point. When customers are lost and confused, the airport is not serving its purpose. Here’s how to avoid making crucial wayfinding signage mistakes.
1. Elevate efficiency
Travel can be stressful for anyone, but the effect is amplified tenfold when you’re in a foreign country and don’t have a clue where you’re going. In sprawling, busy, time-sensitive spaces such as airports, this can be even more prominent. Studies show that passengers are often confused by airports, and miscommunication or misinterpretation of signage is the fourth most common reason for missed flights. With multi-lingual wayfinding signs, passengers can be given clear and precise information, even if they do not read the local language.
2. A welcoming space
If you’ve ever felt isolated and lonely in an international airport, you’re not alone. Unfamiliar shops, unfamiliar food, the sound of unfamiliar languages… it can all combine into a very bewildering experience. Studies show that the result of this can be the feeling of being unwelcome, an effect that can be amplified if the ‘welcome’ sign isn’t written in your own language.
With international wayfinding signage, large and diverse groups of people are invited into a space that is comfortable and inclusive. This can enhance the atmosphere of the airport, boosting its appeal.
3. Enhance the experience
There are few things more daunting than being lost in an international airport. For the passenger, the experience can be anxiety-inducing. For the airport, the need for staff to point people in the right direction can be an unnecessary irritation. Overall, the outcome is to drag down the experience of travellers and employees, impacting morale on both sides.
With clear, concise, friendly signage, customers can navigate the airport with confidence. Employees can focus on their assigned duties, and the experience can be enhanced for everyone.
4. Timely updates
When dealing with a busy international airport, ensuring that everyone is in the right place at the right time is a complex art. Airline operators still have a long way to go before perfecting efficiency, and this means that there will inevitably be delays, last-minute gate switches, and similar inconveniences. The result can be, at best, stress levels that soar faster than a plane. At worst, it can mean missed flights.
With custom wayfinding signs in multiple languages, information can be communicated quickly, efficiently, and without confusion. This can help to keep stress levels under control while increasing the chances of all passengers being in the right place at the right time.
Find out more
Be sure to prioritise the multi-national element in your international airport planning. People from all corners of the world will be navigating your airport space, so ensure that the wayfinding signage is welcoming, helpful, and multi-lingual. To find out more, contact us today.
Image Source: Canva
