Accessible and Engaging: The Future of ADA Signs

In every design element, remember your audience.

“Know your audience” is perhaps the oldest and most fundamental proverb for communicators, and that’s no different here. According to ADA signage experts, individuals who read by touch prefer rounded or beveled, very thin character strokes. Those are not visually appealing shapes — but they don’t have to be! Too often, printers think raised letters for tactile reading have to be the same ones presented for visual reading, which means choosing between what’s visually appealing and what’s clear to the touch. Tactile readers are often unconcerned with visual presentation, and vice versa – which means there’s no reason to try to appeal to both with the same design element. By printing bold, high-contrast visual characters that are easy to read from across the room, you can catch the attention of (and, crucially, effectively communicate to) sighted audiences. Meanwhile, tactile characters, often visually unappealing, can be “hidden” to the eye within another design element while still easy to find and understand for those who read by touch. Consider other ways these dual audiences can be catered to, such as employing fifth-color neons on dark substrates to make signage pop for sighted people, while raised characters provide helpful tips for streamlined sightless navigation of elevator buttons and nontraditional floorplans.

In the end, signage is about communication, and accessible design is about making sure that communication is as effective and inclusive as it can and should be. By considering and applying ADA guidelines, you can produce effective, engaging signage that everyone can enjoy and benefit from. If you’re ready to start pushing boundaries, don’t be afraid to work with third-party experts who can help take your signage to the next level — while still serving all those who come across it.