Installing a sign in the outdoors takes some planning and creativity to capture the attention of drivers glancing at the roadside and pedestrians going by buildings at obvious slower speeds.

户外标识导视系统的建立需要一定的计划和创意，才可以引起行人的注意力，使他们迅速捕捉到所需信息。

Either way, the messages on the signs have to be read quickly, resulting in additional requirements that indoor signs do not have.

无论呈现出的是哪一种方式，标识上的信息都应该具有可读性和清晰性。

“The biggest problem I have with wayfinding that I find from a sign design perspective is people want to put too much on a sign,” says Jim Brown, exterior products manager of Takeform, a wayfinding consulting and fabrication company in Medina, New York, in business for 20 years. “They don’t need all the information on a sign; it could be detrimental.”

Takeform的外贸产品经理Jim Brown说：“从标识设计的角度来看，我遇到的最大的问题是，人们总想在标识上做太多的事情，例如，他们会添加很多没有价值、不需要的信息，这可能对人们起到反的作用。

Brown says a line or two often is better than a paragraph of information.

通常情况下，一两个简单的符号比一段信息带给人们提示的效果会更好。

“The sign needs to be functional. It has a job to do, and you need to let it do it,” Brown says. “You have to determine where you want to get people, where you want people to go.”

户外标识导视系统需要发挥很重要的一项功能是，它必须针对有效人群，指引他们想去的地方。

One way to do that is to start with an exterior site survey of the area where the sign will be placed, says Bill Freeman, vice-president of architectural sales for Howard Industries, a sign manufacturing company in Fairview, Pennsylvania.

霍华德工业公司是宾夕法尼亚州费尔维尤市的一家标识制造公司，该公司的建筑销售副总裁Bill Freeman说：“要使户外标识能很好地发挥作用，需要对标识设置区域的外部现场进行全面调查。”

“The best practice is to view the site as a ‘first-time’ visitor,” Freeman says. “Once all of the site data is collected, you are able to recommend signage placement and messaging.”

 Freeman说：“对标识设置区域的外部现场进行全面调查，可以通过互联网的渠道，来收集和整合所有的数据。”

Freeman recommends assessing traffic patterns for both vehicles and pedestrians where applicable, photographing the area of the sign’s placement and making note of any points along a travel route where navigational decisions need to be made.

此外，Freeman建议在适当的情况下，对该区域进行车辆和行人的交通模式进行评估，拍摄标识位置的所有区域，并记录导航路线上的所有点。

The decision points can include a T in the road, an entrance to a property or the outside of a building, Brown says. Exterior wayfinding signs may give directions, offer a directory or present a site plan with a list of the buildings on the property, he says.

所有点包括道路、物业入口以及建筑物的外部。在这样的设置结构中，户外标识导视系统会一对一地给出指示，提供一个目录，或者提供一份包含该建筑物的平面图。

The Content of Exterior Wayfinding Signs

户外标识导视系统上的内容

The content of the signs needs to help with the decision process, taking into account things like viewing distance versus the speed of traffic and if the signs are geared to an audience of drivers, bicyclists or pedestrians, Brown says. The design for a roadway sign with higher speed limits will require larger letters for that proper viewing than a sign for a lower speed area.

标识上的内容是对行人的行程起决策作用。考虑到观看距离和交通速度等因素，标识的正面应面向司机、骑行者或行人；在标识内容的设计上，具有高速限制的道路标识需要比低速区域的标识设计的字母更大。

“There are legitimacy charts to determine the height of the letters versus the speed you’re going,” Brown says.

那么，这需要一种合法性图表来确定标识的高度和行使者的速度这两者之间的关系.

The font is an important consideration, as is what the copy will be made out of, Brown says.

此外，标识上的字体是一个非常重要的探究因素。

“Obviously, you want to use a font that’s legible,” he says, recommending avoiding fonts with fancy script or that are hard to read. “For the actual body of the sign giving directions, you want to be able to read it, as opposed to having it just look pretty.”

标识上的内容要达到清晰的程度，就应避免花哨的字体，花哨的字体总是让人难以阅读。毕竟，对于指示标牌的实际价值而言，就是能够让行人准确阅读，真正帮助到他们，而不是看起来很美观而已。”

For optimal readability, signs geared to drivers should be placed perpendicular to the roadway in direct view of their line of sight, Freeman says.

另一方面，为了获得最佳的可读性，为驾驶员设置的标识应该垂直于道路上，产生直视视线。

“Proper copy size, layout design and color combinations ensure successful visibility of any wayfinding sign,” he says. “Keep wayfinding messages clear and concise and choose contrasting color combinations that promote legibility.”

因此，适当的尺寸、布局设计和颜色能确保标识的可视性，要保持信息的清晰简明，选择颜色有鲜明对比的才可提高易读性。

The Sign’s Shape and Size

标识的形状与大小

The size and shape of a sign, such as if it is rectangular or square, are other important factors, says Natalie Whited, vice-president of marketing at Orbus Exhibit & Display group, a division of SignPro Systems, a trade show supplier and manufacturer in Woodridge, Illinois. 

商业展览供应商SignPro Systems的营销副总Natalie Whited说：“要建立一个有效的户外标识导视系统，标识的大小和形状是非常重要的因素。

“Size is a key question,” Whited says. “It would depend on the environment. … What kind of environment and needs do you have? You almost have to have a needs analysis done in order to suggest the right solution.”

标识的大小设计需要取决于周围的整体环境，对周围的环境需求需要进行分析，以提出正确的解决方案。

When creating the sign, getting the dimensions to be precise is critical for the installation, Whited says.

精确标识的尺寸对安装也至关重要。

“If they are off a little bit, they can screw everything from the presentation to the end environment,” Whited says.

如果有一点点缺陷，可能会影响环境和最终的效果。

The height of the sign may be limited by town or city code, or the sign may need to follow a minimum size requirement in the case of a stop sign or parking sign, Brown says.

由于标识的高度可能受到城市的限制，在某些情况下，标识可能需要遵循最小尺寸的要求。

“It is very important for sign companies to know the zoning requirements and restrictions of municipalities where they plan to install wayfinding signage,” Freeman says. “Before designing a wayfinding signage plan, research sign size restrictions and placement requirements.”

对于标识制造商来说，了解不同城市的要求和限制非常重要，在设计户外标识导视系统之前，研究好标识大小的限制和安置要求。”

Considering the physical area where signs will be installed also is important to retain their visibility factor.

考虑到标识安装的实际区域，做到可见度也很重要。

“Since exterior wayfinding signage is placed in an outdoor environment, signs can become quite large and impressive in appearance,” Freeman says. “Architectural design elements from nearby buildings can be incorporated into their designs, creating an aesthetic unity and overall captivating and interactive experience for the viewer.”

由于户外标识导视系统放置在户外环境中，很容易进入人们的视线，如果在外观上设计相对出众，会令人印象非常深刻。有些户外标识借用附近建筑的设计元素，融入到了标识的设计中，实现了一种美学的统一性和整体性，给人们带来一种和谐的互动体验。”

Takeform does this by designing exterior wayfinding signs to fit with the environment and the customer’s identity, reflecting a building’s architecture or a company logo, Brown says.

因此，有些时候通过设计符合环境的户外标识导视系统来反映建筑物的结构或企业形象。

“It’s more aesthetically pleasing,” Brown says. “The whole idea is to tie everything together.”

能够将所有的匹配因素联系在一起，会给人更加舒适的感觉。

Another factor in sign placement is a customer’s need for modularity, especially for organizations that undergo constant change, such as colleges, universities and hospitals, Freeman says.

标识设置的另一个因素是客户对模块化的需求，特别是对于不断变化的组织，比如学院，大学和医院，需要有一套易于更换的系统。

“Offering a signage system that can be easily updated is a strong selling point for these types of clients,” Freeman says, recommending avoiding flush face signs with routed copy that does not lend well to alterations. “Signs with removable panels and vinyl copy are more economically sound design options.”

Freeman说：“对于这些类型的客户来说，提供易于更新的标识系统是一个很好的服务卖点，但要避免使用冲洗标识和脸型标识，这些标识不易于改动，而带有可拆卸面板和乙烯基拷贝的标识才是经济合理的选择。”

The Sign’s Material

标识的材料

Decisions about the use of materials also help with determining a sign’s design.

材料的使用也决定着标识的外观视觉设计。

Most exterior wayfinding signs are made out of painted aluminum or aluminum composite material, both durable, affordable materials, Brown says.

大多数户外标识导视系统都是用涂漆的铝或铝复合材料制成，既耐用又经济实惠。

“Aluminum is very affordable. It’s very easy to work with,” Brown says.

使用铝质材料是一个非常好的选择。

The material is lightweight, does not rust, is easy to bend and fabricate, and can hold paint well, Brown says. ACM comes in diverse colors and patterns, and the finish is part of the material, as opposed to aluminum, which has to be painted, he says.

这种材料重量轻，不生锈，易于弯曲和塑型，还可以很好地保持油漆不掉色。像ACM就具有不同的颜色和图案，它属于材料的一部分，但并不是涂漆的铝。

ACM is graffiti resistant, easy to clean and resistant to scratching, Brown says.

ACM具有抗涂鸦性，易于清洁和耐划伤。

Freeman recommends using an automotive-grade polyurethane paint for long-lasting sign finishes and adding a clear coat to further extend the longevity of the finish. If eco-solvent inkjet printed graphics are used, they should have an ultraviolet protective laminate to protect against the elements, he says. For cut vinyl graphics, he recommends using high-performance rated materials.

Freeman还建议使用一种聚氨酯涂料，以获得持久的标识表面，并添加透明涂层，延长涂层的使用寿命。如果要使用生态溶剂喷墨打印的图形，应该配上一个紫外线的防护层压板。对于切割的乙烯基图形，应使用高性能的额定材料。

“You need to be able to see them at night,” Brown says, adding that the signs could be illuminated internally or externally with lights pointing toward them or by using reflective vinyl.

一些使用反光PVC材料的标识能够在晚上发光，通过内部或外部照明，作为指明灯。

Signs made out of plastic can deteriorate, and over time metal can rust, Whited says.

值得注意的是，塑料制成的标识最好不要用，很容易造成生锈。

“If this is a permanent exterior solution, the dealer will want to sell aluminum, not steel, for durability and lifespan,” Whited says.

如果要实现一个永久性的外部解决方案，经销商将希望出售的是铝，而不是钢，在耐用性上差别很大。

As a final consideration, signs should be raised above the ground in areas that get snow or have lawns that need mowing, Brown says.

另外，在有雪或有草坪需要修剪的地方，应该提高标识的高度。

“The most important thing with exterior wayfinding is getting the person where they need to go in the most clear, concise way possible, and that pretty much sums up wayfinding,” Brown says.

户外标识导视系统最重要的就是清晰可见，以最简洁的方式给人获得信息。

As such, signage is needed for both the exterior and interior environments, Whited says.

因此，一个户外标识导视系统不管是在内容上，还是与周围环境相结合都是非常重要的。

“You have to carry from the exterior to the interior the same wayfinding philosophy to guide visitors to where they need to go,” Whited says. “The message has to be consistent from the exterior to the interior to provide a good experience for someone coming to that place.”

总的来说，要建立好一个有效的户外标识导视系统，得遵循从外部到内部采用相同的理念，指引行人。除了考虑好标识的内容、外观设计和材料以外，将标识导视系统真正融合到环境中，才能为人们提供良好的体验价值。”