Architects face many unique challenges when handling different types of clients. One of the most important tasks for an architect has to provide their clients with designs that maximize the space well, to ensure full functionality and practicality.
Digital and wayfinding signages help make this possible. These allow designers and architects to combine charm, beauty, function, and practicality together. Companies that incorporate digital signage into their projects and plans get to offer their clients designs with tools that enhance and build up experience of spaces.
These types of foolproof offerings give firms a considerable edge against other competitors. Their clients will feel satisfied to see how patrons interact within the space, rather than just admiring the area’s beauty.
What is Digital Signage?
Digital signage is an automated electronic sign used to deliver messages and information to patrons and customers. It operates on LED, LCD, or projection screens to exhibit videos and illustrations that could inform and capture viewers’ attention nearby.
Its function is endless, as it is a modern communication platform that everyone can relate to these days. A business could design, modify, and reshape digital signage to meet their personal needs.
A computer, DVD, or VCR player are the most straightforward mediums of execution. They must connect to a display to showcase the digital sign. Its display could be a small LCD screen, a plasma panel, or a large video wall made up of multiple connected monitors. There are plenty of affordable and cheap options available in the market.
Why are More Architects Using Digital Signage?
The most challenging part for architects and their firms is integrating digital signage in spaces and places that can easily be seen but still unaggressive. Nowadays, these signages are no longer restricted or limited to just a rectangular screen. Architects, art directors, and designers can make this new technology work for and with their designs instead of bypassing or ignoring it.
Architects and interior designers understand that both employee and customer experience are important factors to consider. This experience begins the moment the person walks through the room or the door. By incorporating digital signages strategically and deliberately into the architecture, designers and architects can maximise visibility, purpose, and functionality without diminishing or detracting from the establishment’s overall look.
By observing how people use spaces and layouts other than just making a design look beautiful and appealing, architects are now reimagining how different structures could serve a specific purpose. An institute in America required a waiting area for patrons in their New York office. Instead of using concrete and bars, the designers went with a glass wall with digital displays affixed in between. Customers on either side of the wall could see the screen.
When integrating digital signage into a spacious room, these can be mounted on walls or hung from a ceiling. Its height and placement will depend on the purpose and function of the display for its targeted audience.
Video walls, architectural, and mosaic displays – just like the video wall shaped like a camellia at The Birmingham Airport in the UK – are the most practical ways of creating an artistic look and feel for the patrons to enjoy.
Top 5 Benefits of Digital Signage Displays
As digital and wayfinding signage becomes more popular with businesses, restaurants/bars, schools, and other establishments, most business owners are looking to cut down expenses on installation, equipment, and overall usage. Business owners are choosing these types of displays for commercial use and their business.
Commercial-grade digital displays are large-format LCD screens meant for viewing from a distance. People can see them in restaurants, casinos, schools, corporate lobbies, sports stadiums, bars, and entertainment venues. The benefits of using digital signage are:
- Minimizes Wait Time
Digital signages keep patrons entertained while waiting, improving customer experience. Having a digital screen offers something to do. It is more comfortable and relaxing to wait in line if people have something to watch.
- Inexpensive
Compared to traditional print signages, it is much cheaper to put out and develop new advertisements on digital screens. This cheaper alternative means the business can have a more targeted and specific marketing campaign. The digital marketing plan can now consider local events and exhibits.
- Interactive
One of the simplest ways to interact with customers is by using digital signages. These are excellent for “data-driven marketing.” A good example is the business could show social promotions where clients can sign up and receive newsletters in return for a discount. Waiting in line to check out with their smartphones is the best time to show these messages to customers.
- Eye-Catching
Commercial-grade digital displays are strikingly brighter and sharper looking compared to other consumer alternatives. These screens are produced and manufactured to have specific levels of brightness as a standard. Columns with backlights show better, crisper, more intense, and vivid images during the day.
- Cuts Administrative Costs
These signages are expensive to install; however, one can save more money by reducing printing and administration costs in the long run. It is a one-time expense and often regarded as a capital investment that usually comes out of the operations budget and not on the marketing budget. Additionally, there are no more print costs.
One person can do the task of handling and up-keep of these screens in one location. If a company has 12 branches, it can update all the digital signages at the same time. This method makes it easier to manage and creates a more consistent brand experience across all franchises.
Top 5 Benefits of Digital Wayfinding
Help patrons get where they need to be by using engaging and interactive touchscreen maps and directories. Digital wayfinding screens improve visitor satisfaction and confidence and eliminate confusion to ease away stress to make a great first impression. Here are the top five benefits establishments can receive from interactive wayfinding:
- The New Normal
Most consumers expect information presented in a way that somewhat mirrors how they get their daily news and other information. People spend most of their time on computers and smartphones, searching for things like airline tickets, transportations schedules, the weather, and how to do anything. Modern establishments and institutions goals are to offer people “a consumer-like experience”. Businesses that still use paper and even brass plaques are perceived to be out of touch and old-fashioned.
- Ecological
Digital wayfinding and directories are more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective compared to using paper and printing fliers. Staff won’t have to waste time putting signs up and then taking them down. Going digital is cheaper than having to continue printing out information continuously.
- Self-Service
Interactive wayfinding signages are mostly self-service, freeing staff members from giving out information and directions all day. It gives them more opportunities and an opening to become more productive and provide more personal and intimate attention to visitors and patrons. Interactive digital screens increase customer and employee satisfaction.
- Responsive
Designing wayfinding signage using HTML5 provides directions to be taken with by people wherever they go. This screen comes with a responsive and receptive format that scales whatever that is displayed on the screen. The program can send it to any screen or mobile device with just one operation or deployment. When expanded to a mobile application, it can provide turn-by-turn directions alongside photos of landmarks. This feature could track people inside the facilities and offer them guidance.
- Deep and Inclusive
A design that is well thought out with interactive wayfinding and navigation options is ADA compliant. This type of design means everyone has the same access to information that the company offers as a modern experience regardless of anyone’s disability.
Digital wayfinding can present a vast amount of user-friendly information with an intuitive interface no matter how small or big the screen is. General information like the current date and time, weather, traffic situation, and the news can also be included in the layout. The options on what people can do with it are endless.
People tend to absorb, take in, and remember information and details provided through visuals better than when data and information are shown through text alone. Using digital media methods to deliver vital and essential information helps customers, employees, and business owners digest and remember messages for longer.
References:
- https://www.intuiface.com/blog/what-is-digital-signage
- https://www.planar.com/blog/2015/9/2/architects-using-digital-displays/
- https://www.promotion.tech/blog/7benefitsofdigitalsignage