Campus Wayfinding Signage: How Colleges Use Digital Displays to Guide Students

Ever wondered how your college campus looks through fresh eyes? It's easy to get lost in the familiarity of everyday scenes and physical environment. But let's switch gears for a second: ever noticed how disoriented new students (and even staff) can get during orientation? The endless stream of "Which way to the library?" and "How do I get to the cafeteria?" speaks volumes.

Let's face it: there's nothing worse than feeling like you're in a perpetual game of hide-and-seek with wherever you’re trying to get to. Which is why campus wayfinding systems and identification signs are a huge part of the college experience.

Digital signage for education has been adopted by various establishments globally to improve the wayfinding experience and provide information, amongst other applications.

We're going to take a look at the many ways that digital signage can be applied to improve both the wayfinding signage in a campus, as well as the other applications for this technology.

What is college wayfinding signage?

College wayfinding signage is a system of displays and signs that help you navigate a campus or university environment. It involves architecture, design, signage, and even psychology. Think of it like building a puzzle, where every piece helps us figure out where we're going.

However, wayfinding signage doesn't just mean directional signs or identification signs.

Wayfinding signage can mean:

• Directional signs
• Screens for announcements or information
• Access to a campus map
• Downloadable maps (via QR codes for example)
• Interactive kiosks

These navigational and wayfinding screens are powered by digital signage software, which can be used to network multiple screens across a single or multiple locations.

Campus wayfinding signage serves as a modern solution to the age-old challenge of orienting newcomers to the intricacies of campus life. So, by using wall signs, digital kiosks and leveraging technology, universities can offer a more user-friendly and intuitive navigation experience. And anything that improves efficiency and reduces confusion has got to be a good thing.

Why is wayfinding important for modern campuses?

They help people find their way around. With campus wayfinding in place, new students and visitors can quickly get to their destination without spending hours wandering.

But digital signage for university wayfinding goes beyond simply pointing out restroom locations or maps. It serves multiple purposes, such as informing students about last-minute room changes, providing safety notifications, offer real time updates and displaying countdowns for events or deadlines.

Wayfinding signage is a versatile tool that helps keep everyone informed and on track in various situations on campus.

Some other ways to use digital wayfinding solutions include:

1. College wayfinding signs create seamless onboarding

Ensure your student’s first day on campus is less daunting. Even the most confident individuals can feel nervous in a new place, especially if they are sprawling campus spaces.

To help ease nerves, universities should consider using digital screens to display:

• Timetables for freshers or orientation week.
• A campus map that covers the campus environment.
• Animated arrows to show directions.
• Names of blocks, rooms or classes.
• Updates about any room changes.

Read our guide: How to set up a digital welcome board

2. Last minute changes can be processed smoothly

Digital signage enables you to update information instantly, such as event timings, class locations or security updates. Unlike traditional or static signs, digital displays reduce the need to reprint or physically update each sign. This not only provides you with real-time updates but also eliminates the time and cost of installing signs.

And while digital signage does cost more to install than traditional signage, the efficiency and ease of use makes it a cost effective wayfinding solution.

Digital wayfinding can also help save time for users and visitors, and regulate foot traffic, by displaying an interactive map of the campus and the different routes available between point A and point B. 

Is there a diversion due to essential building maintenance? Or perhaps bad weather has closed off a section of the campus?

Digital wayfinding signage can be used to guide students to their required location via different routes.

3. Create a sense of belonging

Making sure your university campus feels like home involves more than just the building; it's about creating a sense of belonging. That's where branding comes in, even for digital wayfinding signage. It not only looks sharp but also helps students and visitors connect with the campus.

With readily available tools like Photoshop or Canva, any university can create branded templates and design posters within a simple drag-and-drop system and have them displayed in their digital screens. 

ScreenCloud also makes it easy to manage your wayfinding systems with easy to use templates.

4. Manage emergencies better with campus navigation that works 

In case of emergencies that disrupt campus life, it's crucial to have a plan to guide everyone to safety. That's where campus wayfinding signage comes in handy. It helps users, students and staff alike, to find assembly points and emergency exits quickly and aids in orderly evacuation.

This way, campus safety is ensured even during unexpected, disruptive and potentially life-threatening events.

Read more about the benefits of digital signage within education.

Examples of wayfinding signage in colleges today

1. Interactive maps in the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan helps students and visitors find their way around through their interactive campus wayfinding map. Available through their website and mobile platforms, the tool lets users search for buildings, departments, landmarks, and accessible routes.

It supports real-time navigation, especially helpful for new students or during large campus events. IT's a simple example of how powerful and uncomplicated campus wayfinding can be.

See the interactive map here.

2. Georgia Institute of Technology's campus wide digital signage rollout

Georgia Tech integrates digital signage throughout its campus using high-resolution screens in academic buildings and student centers.

The screens have been set up to display a wide range of helpful information for students. They also offer an interactive 3D wayfinding feature that lets students and visitors access directions through a display control.

Read more on the rollout.

How to set up a university wayfinding system

Planning an effective digital wayfinding system for campuses requires a systematic approach. Any University wayfinding solutions need to ensure clarity and provide efficiency for both visitors and regulars navigating the various campus environments.

Lets find out how to plan your wayfinding strategy for educational establishments:

1. Conduct a wayfinding audit

Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of the existing wayfinding signs across the university campus. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current system, considering factors such as visibility, comprehensibility, and adherence to brand guidelines.

Above all, try to understand why your campus needs a shift from physical signage to digital and where the digital signage would be best installed.

Digital wayfinding signage can be used in conjunction with static signage, so it might be that you have displays in one location, traditional signage in another and interactive kiosks in a different location.

Some tips:

• Identify the main routes through the campus
• Identify the main meeting points or bottlenecks
• Highlight any hard to find or obscure locations within your campus that could benefit from better signage
• Work out whether digital signage or static signage would be best suited for specific locations

Offering digital signage at entranceways and high traffic locations can help to speed up foot traffic.

Static signage can then help people stay en route, and a mixture of digital signage and static signage can be used to highlight locations.

2. Choosing hardware for wayfinding signage

There are a multitude of options to display your wayfinding signage systems. From standard TV monitors to made for purpose LCD or LED screens which are designed to withstand the elements.

And this will be one of the main factors to influence your choice of screens.

• Will the screen be located outside?
• Or, will it be within a building or sheltered location?
• And, will it be accessible? (ie. touchable)

TVs and consumer grade screens can be a cost effective option for wayfinding signage within buildings, foyers and other sheltered locations.

But external digital wayfinding signage will need to be resistant to the elements. Professional grade signage screens can be installed in the locations needed, and will be resistant to weather and even the antics of overzealous students.

3. Design and testing

Once the locations and hardware are agreed, you'll need to design your signage content.

Wayfinding signage isn't always going to be simply arrows pointing to specific destinations. It can also be a selection of maps, interactive elements, videos and text announcements.

While your university or educational institution's colorways might influence the styling, you'll need to make sure that signage will be visible and legible.

Conduct testing in real-world situations to ensure the signs are not only visually appealing but also function effectively in guiding individuals around the campus. Consider factors such as the optimal size, placement, and visibility of each sign.

One of the best ways to test is to use one sign in a specific location as a test case, and then run a follow up asking students and locations what they thought, or how they would improve the signage.

This testing phase is crucial for refining the designs and ensuring that the final wayfinding system meets the practical needs of its users.

4. Planning implementation and installation

With the designs and testing completed, you'll be able to move on to the implementation phase. Develop a comprehensive plan that includes an estimation of the overall cost of producing and installing the signs. Consider potential challenges, such as disruption, and allocate resources accordingly.

Create a timeline for the installation process, factoring in the optimal times for minimal disruption to campus activities. This might mean out of term times, or during a holiday break.

Because of the logistics of installing larger screens and signage, you will likely need to coordinate with relevant departments to ensure that all necessary details, such as permits and permissions, are in place for a smooth execution.

How to improve your digital wayfinding system on campus

While some campuses might already have some digital wayfinding in place, they might be looking at improving or updating the navigational experience.

In this instance, there are a few steps to take before you start looking at investing in and installing a new wayfinding signage system.

Some tips to for your campus wayfinding strategies....

• Talk to first-time visitors and students to understand how they navigate the campus and where they struggle.
• Use these insights to decide where signage is needed and what budget-friendly options make sense.
• Create user profiles for different groups, like prospective students, people with disabilities, non-native speakers, and color-blind users.
• Include occasional visitors such as parents or maintenance staff to ensure signage serves everyone on campus.
• Keep messaging short and clear so it's easy to understand at a glance.
• Use simple language, recognizable icons, and clear arrows or maps that complement existing static signs.
• Choose fonts, colors, and sizes that are legible from a distance and accessible for all users.
• Offer downloadable maps via QR codes on your signage to give users mobile access.
• Make sure signage placement is logical, visible, and helpful throughout the campus.=

How ScreenCloud helps colleges build better wayfinding

Whether you're setting up a comprehensive network of wayfinding signs for a university campus or other educational institutions, or you just need a few signage displays for your campus community. ScreenCloud offers an array of easy to use and affordable options for digital signage.

Want to find out how ScreenCloud can benefit your campus users? Or how it can be incorporated into your wayfinding design?

Schedule a free demo, or sign up for our 14 day free trial today.