Hospital & Healthcare Signage Design

All healthcare facilities require signage and wayfinding to help patients feel secure in their visit without a hitch, from arrival to exit. Medical centers are typically intimidating to new visitors, who have enough on their mind already. Hospital signage should direct traffic with clear messaging and a touch of delight which lightens the day for an anxious patient or visitor.

Exterior healthcare signage includes entrance monument signs, wayfinding systems, and interactive design programs that are legible, reassuring, and joyful. Interior healthcare signage design seamlessly leads the visitor through the medical facility. Hospital wayfinding must define a system of hierarchy within messaging and even reassure the visitors they are still going the right direction. Healthcare facility signage can improve a patient’s experience while saving staff from becoming visitor guides.

Starting with meticulous research, we plan and strategize for the needs of each hospital, medical center, or clinic. Through interviews and workshops, our team steps into the shoes of patients, family, and staff to design an experience fit for everyone. This planning leads to hospital wayfinding signage that is both functional and innovative. Patients and visitors feel a sense of comfort so their minds can stay at ease.

Take a look at our previous projects below, or reach out about how to partner with us on a healthcare facility.

Research shows that our relationship to nature and the built environment have an impact on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This is perhaps most important in healthcare settings, where we go to heal and support our well-being. Not only does this make our hospital and healthcare wayfinding signage critically important, but also all aspects of environmental graphic design, such as public art, murals, landmarks, branding, lighting, and landscaping.

Our approach to designing wayfinding systems is rooted in our belief that clarity, simplicity, and empathy are fundamental to creating spaces that support the well-being of patients, visitors, and staff. Key concepts include:

• Creating Comfort and Security: Strategically planned wayfinding design presents users with a hierarchy of information that is easy to follow, allowing them to navigate the built environment with confidence. This can help alleviate anxiety during a time that may be stressful, as well as reduce time spent by staff on providing directions.
• Ensuring Safety: By strategically placing safety signs, emergency exits, and hazard warnings, we create an environment where everyone can navigate safely. Clear, intuitive healthcare signage is critical for preventing confusion, stress, and safety issues.
• Enhancing User Experience: By understanding the needs of patients, families, and staff, we can design a comprehensive wayfinding system that supports a positive user experience throughout their entire journey in the built environment. In addition to signage, our wayfinding design includes interactive elements and digital integration to provide real-time information and support, as well as public art and landmarks to enhance both user navigation and the patient experience.
• Combining Beauty and Functionality: At RSM Design, we bring beauty, simplicity, and meaning as well as functionality to design challenges. In healthcare settings especially, this means creating a built environment that not only guides but also inspires. One important strategy we use is incorporating elements of biophilic design, connecting patients and visitors with nature through visual cues and materials. This has been shown to improve mental well-being and create a more calming atmosphere within hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Establishing Brand Recognition: Cohesive, branded signage reflects a commitment to quality and care while also establishing and reinforcing a brand identity. We incorporate an integrated brand palette through color, logo, and design consistency across signage to produce a visually unified experience. This not only enhances a holistic patient experience, but also builds trust and familiarity with patients and visitors, reinforcing the brand throughout the healthcare journey.
• Educating Patients and Visitors About Services: While visiting a facility, healthcare wayfinding signage can also educate people about the wide range of services offered. Digital signage in particular can communicate information about various services, amenities, and new programs or departments. In addition to promoting hospital offerings, this allows patients to make more informed decisions about their health and how they choose to engage with the facility.
• Supporting Staff Efficiency: With less time spent giving visitors directions, healthcare staff can devote more time and energy to patient care. Our clear, strategically placed signage, combined with thoughtfully designed architectural features, creates an environment where wayfinding is intuitive, reducing reliance on staff and improving navigation. Digital signage also provides real-time updates and reminders for staff about meetings, schedule changes, assignments, and other notices.

To learn more, read our article on Healthcare Signage Design.