Effective programs achieve the greatest impact with the fewest number of signs. Careful attention to the development of a hierarchy of sign types that communicate through their message character, location and overall appearance creates a system that saves on the cost of hardware and maintenance and best serves the user and owner. First-time users of a facility have only a few moments to determine what to look for. To speed them to their destinations, the system needs to telegraph critical information quickly, clearly and memorably. Facility users are quick to pick up other cues from the environment that prove to be powerful aides when skillfully incorporated into the wayfinding system.
Color can be compelling or it can be confusing background noise and visual clutter.
When used as a coding device, four colors are the understandable limit for the average user. By clearly defining color's function, what it means and how much color to use, the design team can boost the impact of the system. In our increasingly multilingual society, the use of dual-language signage systems is often mandatory. Critical as these systems are they can be difficult to administer. Consistency is key to effective use of maps.