Consistency and the Airport | Dangerous Design

An airport is a point of connection; between bus and plane, between plane and train, between car and shuttle. Often orchestrating all of these connections are designed signs which try to precisely describe direction, location, guidelines, etc.

I am currently sitting at the Sacramento International Airport waiting for my flight to Albuquerque, and it became apparent that the way-finding system of SMF would be the theme

of my next blog.

Once off the freeway, the friend who was driving noticed that the airline I was flying with was listed on a large red sign next to a blue sign, encouraging her to drive in the right lane. Approximately 10 seconds later, the red sign had switched places with the blue sign now confusing us into changing lanes. Another 10 seconds later and the signs had yet again switched places, finally directing us to the appropriate area.

This confusion of signs could have caused an accident while we were driving. The last thing a driver want's to be responsible for doing is deciphering a complicated signage system that confuses rather than explains.

It isn't enough for informational signage to be in a readable font or to have a color that differentiates it from it's background. It must be accurately placed in the line of sight as well as correct position in order for people driving between 20-30mph to understand in a very short amount of time.

I guess I'm trying to say that there is good signage and there is bad signage. Way-finding systems should be thought out with care and must be just as consciously designed as the buildings that house them.