MUST-HAVE RECEPTION AND LOBBY SIGNS FOR YOUR OFFICE

APRIL 16, 2023| ooneill

Whether you are at a flagship office in San Diego, CA or a satellite location elsewhere in the US,  as a business owner, you know first impression matters. That’s why it’s essential to create a welcoming and professional environment for your customers, employees, and visitors. One way to do this is by investing in high-quality reception signage.

These signs are typically placed in prominent locations throughout the building to guide visitors and employees to the appropriate areas. Knowing how to create professional and attractive office reception signs can boost customer satisfaction and better market your brand to new clients or customers.

WHAT ARE RECEPTION AND LOBBY SIGNS?

Reception signs are usually placed near an entrance of the building and display information about the reception area, such as the name of the company and organization, hours of operation, and contact information. Their primary purpose is to welcome customers and clients when they walk into your lobby. Additionally, these signs can also serve several other functions, such as branding your organization and providing visitors with critical information.

Lobby signs are typically located in the lobby or waiting area and are used to provide information about the building or facility. These signs may display the name and logo of the company, as well as information about the services provided or any special instructions for visitors.
Both reception and lobby signs are important for creating a positive impression on visitors and ensuring they are able to navigate the building easily.

WHY IS RECEPTION AND LOBBY SIGNAGE IMPORTANT?

Reception signage is more than just a wayfinding tool. It serves as an extension of your brand and can communicate your values, style, and professionalism. Here are a few reasons why professional reception signage is essential for your business:

1. MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

When someone enters your business, the reception area is often the first point of contact. As they approach your reception desk, they’ll be making judgments, consciously or unconsciously, about your organization.A well-designed reception sign can make a lasting impression and set the tone for the rest of the customer experience. A professional-looking sign shows that you care about your business and take pride in providing a welcoming atmosphere.

A unique, eye-catching sign makes an excellent first impression because it immediately tells the viewer that they’ve come to the right place. A fantastic-looking sign also showcases your professionalism and sends the message that your company takes pride in what you do.

2. HIGHLIGHT YOUR BRAND

Your reception area is an opportunity to showcase your brand identity. Your reception sign should reflect your company’s values, mission, and personality. This helps create a cohesive experience for customers and employees and reinforces your brand identity. Establishing a brand is essential to any organization looking to bring in new customers and clients. If more people know what your company is and what you stand for, they’re more likely to turn to you for their needs.

By having a strong identity, you can raise your company’s brand awareness and grow your reputation as a major player in your industry. Alongside making a statement to visitors, reception signage can improve your company’s visibility, helping visitors recognize your brand logo and name instantly in other contexts.

3. DEMONSTRATE PROFESSIONALISM AND ESTABLISH AUTHORITY

Professionalism is critical in business. A high-quality reception sign communicates that your business is serious and professional. It shows that you pay attention to details and take pride in your work. This can help build trust with customers, partners, and employees.

Finally, professional reception signage can help your business stand out from competitors. A well-designed sign can make your business more memorable and create a positive association in the minds of customers. This can be especially important in competitive industries, where small details can make a big difference.

Your organization is likely competing with other businesses offering similar services or products some of them located right there, in your neighborhood. As a result, it’s crucial to establish your authority in your field as soon a customer walks through your doors. When your facility’s reception area stands out with attractive professionally designed signage, you send the message you’re different from the competition. Due to the authority signage can give your organization, you can build trust right from the beginning and make it more likely consumers choose your organization for their needs.

4. PROVIDE DIRECTIONS TO VISITORS

Reception and lobby signage also serves a functional purpose. It can help visitors find their way around your building, directing them to the appropriate office, conference room, or restroom. This helps reduce confusion and ensures that visitors have a positive experience.

Signage with text and imagery highlights important locations in your building, such as particular departments or offices. As visitors walk into your office, they are able to instantly guide themselves looking at the reception signage. These easy-to-follow directional signage can improve a visitor’s view of your organization and start them off on the right foot.

TOP TYPES OF RECEPTION AREA SIGNS

Some of the most common lobby and reception sign styles include backlit graphics, digital signage, environmental graphics and contour-cut signage.

1. DIGITAL SIGNAGE

Digital signs have become very popular in company’s office reception areas. Unlike traditional signage, these signs utilize commercial grade monitors to display digital graphics and text. They have user friendly apps that you can quickly update messages and other designs, swapping out images with just a few keystrokes on a computer. Digital signs also give your space a high-tech look and can be used to showcase eye-catching graphics, as well as up to date information.

For example, if you have continuously changing schedules and regulations you need to communicate, a digital sign allows you to change those instructions at a moment’s notice. Digital signs are also very useful for highlighting your employee of the month or switching out specials and other time-sensitive promotions.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS: WALL, FLOOR, CEILING AND WINDOW

Environmental graphics are another fantastic way to differentiate your reception area and give it a unique appearance and alter the look of an environment in a significant way. Often, these graphics are applied via adhesive to walls, floors, ceilings, windows or doors to improve a space’s appearance. Environmental graphics can be a good choice to complement your reception area, as they can give the lobby a unique feel and look.

Instead of using murals as your primary lobby sign, you can place them around the area as accents, drawing in visitors to your particular aesthetic.

3. CONTOUR-CUT SIGNAGE

To bring multi-dimensional interest to your lobby, contour-cut signage is a the way to go. Rather than being a geometric shape of a rectangle, circle or oval, this sign cuts along the contour, or edge of a design to help a complex design stand out, taking the shape of a logo or letters of your company name.

4. DIMENSIONAL LETTERING AND LOGO SIGNAGE

Dimensional signs are signs that pop out from the wall or background where they are installed. These signs feature a three-dimensional appearance, with text and other key designs bumped out from the background. We’ve used dimensional lettering with motivational quotes around the office, or values/mission statement in the front lobby. They’re constructed out of individually cut letters or logo and installed to a flat sign or wall surface.

You often see dimensional signs placed behind an office’s reception area, as these signs tend to look good and draw enough attention to themselves that they quickly showcase what organization they’re representing. Since these signs have a three-dimensional appearance, they can do a better job of jumping out to viewers and being as visible as possible.

7. WAYFINDING SIGNS

If you have a large office, you might want to consider adding wayfinding signage to your reception area and throughout the rest of your facility. Companies use wayfinding signage to give customers directions to key locations, such as particular offices, restrooms, fire exits, elevators and stairs. With this signage in your reception area, you can better serve visitors, as they’ll immediately know where they need to go.

6. ADA COMPLIANT SIGNS

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lays out a few laws that make it illegal to discriminate against or unfairly treat individuals with disabilities. The government often requires companies to have ADA signage to ensure they meet the ADA’s rules and accommodate people with disabilities. If your facility has any ADA requirements, you may want to place some ADA signs in your reception area to ensure you’re complying with these regulations.

You can find several types of ADA signs, such as overhead signs, wayfinding graphics, information signs and identification graphics. All of these signs can help you better serve those with disabilities. For example, a reception sign with Braille can help people with visual impairment know they’re in the right location. Additionally, you can use ADA signs with Braille to give directions to emergency exits and other rooms.

CREATIVE RECEPTION SIGN IDEAS

With all of the many office reception signs to choose from, highlight your creative spirit and your brand to make your reception area as inviting and memorable as possible. Some of the latest trends and effective office signs include minimalist look, contrasting colors  and textured.

If you’re looking for some ideas for your reception signage, check out some of the top design ideas for office reception signs:

• Textured: You can often pair your reception signage with a living wall for the textured look. These walls feature growing live or faux plants , making your space more natural-looking and environmentally friendly. Mixing and matching mounting your signage in the center of one of these walls, will draw attention to your reception unique style.
• Minimalist: Operating on the principle that less is more, these signs can give an office a sharp, clutter free calm look and put customers at ease the moment they walk through a door. Combine logo and a simple background for modern feel.
• Contrasting: Use contrasting color as a background with your logo mounted on top of it. The contrast will bring more attention to contour logo or cut vinyl letters and make them pop. For example, you could install copper metal dimensional letters over a blue backdrop to get the effect.
• Wall murals: Custom vinyl wall murals are gaining popularity. Many companies enjoy placing creative wall murals on the walls  in their lobby, reception and conference rooms for an immersive wow effect.  You can use mural to bring some greenery or skyline images into your office, or with showcasing your company’s story and welcome visitors.

CHOOSE SPEEDPRO FOR YOUR OFFICE RECEPTION SIGNS

SpeedPro San Diego is a local full service woman owned studio with latest premium manufacturing technology and professional installers.  Once you partner with us, we’ll work with you to find the most beautiful and effective signage for your office. We strive to be your one-stop shop, we can also provide signage for your office’s exterior and throughout your interior. You can trust our signs and graphics to last a long time and give you the appealing office space you want.

Learn more about our selection of reception signs today. If you’re ready to outfit your office with reception signs, reach out to us at SpeedPro of Greater San Diego and receive a free quote fast!