Universal Design

Signage
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Five types of signs

• information signs
• directional signs
• identification signs
• instructive
• mandatory safety signs.
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Information sign

• An aid to overall orientation within a site or building.

• Cover information relating to a site, including internal and

external areas.

• Examples include maps and diagrams.

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Information sign
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Information sign
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Directional sign

• Provide directional guidance within a site or building.

• Signs include arrows.
• Examples include sign boards with several named destinations and
a series of arrows and signs with a single name and accompanying
arrow.
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Identification sign

• Identify particular destinations, such as a an individual building, a

single room, facility or service.
• Do not incorporate arrows.
• Examples include building name signs, room name or number signs.
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Instructive

• To give instruction for operating a device, way finding, etc.

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Health and safety

• Required by regulation for the safety of all building users.

• Type, style and colour of signs are prescribed by national standards.
• Examples include fire safety signs and notices, emergency exit
signs and health and safety notices.
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A good signage scheme should cover all public buildings, spaces,

and facilities including transportation infrastructure and should
include locations such as :

a. Approach to building / facility / service

b. Entrance / exit
c. Main lobby or reception
d. Public facilities such as library, toilets etc.
e. Departments and offices
f. Fire exits
g. Parking and garages
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Consideration

a. the location, accessibility, layout and height of signs;

b. the size of lettering, symbols and their reading distances;
c. the use of tactile letters and symbols;
d. visual contrast and lighting;
e. the finished surfaces of materials used for signs and symbols;
f. the simultaneous use of audible cues;
g. integration with any other communication systems.
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Location
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Location
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Location and Reading distance
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Size

The height of signs shall

Size of symbols to be
be not less than the 200mm x 200mm
following : square with 1.25mm
• 60 mm for doors border.

• 110 mm for corridors

• 200 mm for external use

International Sign for Persons

Symbol of with Hearing
Accessibility Impairment
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Size and viewing distance
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Size
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Principles of Character, Content and Layout

• Should be mix of Upper and lower case

• Should be Left justified
• Should be Tactile embossed with Braille
• Minimal use of bold
• Avoid italics, condensed text
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Braille size

Dot spacing: 2.5 mm

Dot base diameter : 1.5 mm
Dot height/raise: 0.5 mm

Spacing between characters: 6.5 mm

Spacing between lines: 10 mm
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Tactile guide path shall be

installed from a point of
access at the lot boundary
to the main entrance of the
building and from the main
entrance to lift zone, the
nearest accessible toilet,
public information/service
counter
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Colour

Safety signs use primarily red,

Yellow and green as information colours.
Other signs it is preferable to use Blue and White Colours.

The colour combinations red/green and yellow/blue should not be used

in order to avoid confusing persons who are colour blind.
Colour

Colour helps us in
memorizing certain
information by increasing
our attention level

Warm colors such as yellow,

red and orange have greater
attention rate.

Source: Dzulkifli, M.A. & Mustafar, M. F. (2013),The Influence of Colour on Memory

Performance:A Review, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, pp. 3-9.
Colour

• Cool colours
typically make a
space seem larger.

• Cool colours
function well to
promote a sense of
alertness and
productivity

Source: Dzulkifli, M.A. & Mustafar, M. F. (2013),The Influence of Colour on Memory

Performance:A Review, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, pp. 3-9.
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• Coloured object with non colour

background have better memory
retention.

• Readability performance is highest on the

black on white background

Source: Dzulkifli, M.A. & Mustafar, M. F. (2013),The Influence of Colour on Memory

Performance:A Review, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, pp. 3-9.
Colour

Has been applied in art supplies, tourist maps, healthcare products, and
popular card game UNO.
Colour

Eatwell assistive tableware set, 2015, Sha Design LLC, California, USA
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Visual contrast

Visual contrast is defined as the difference in Light Reflectance Value

(LRV) between two contiguous surfaces.

Light Reflectance Value is measured on a scale of 0 to 100

where 0 equals black and there is total light absorption and white
=100 and there is total light reflection.

Visual Contrast = [(B1-B2)/B1] x 100 %

where B1 is LRV of the lighter area

and B2 is LRV of the darker area
values of 30% is considered adequate but more legible when the contrast is at
least 70%.
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Visual contrast
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Lighting and material

Signs should be well and evenly lit with uniform lighting over the surface of
the sign of between 100 and 300 lux. Minimum acceptable level of lighting
for directional signage, maps and text panel is 200 lux.

Signage Material should be non-reflective, preferably matt finish. Some

suggested materials for signage are wood, acrylic, Aluminum
Composite Panel (ACP).
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Speaker and buttons in talking sign

• The higher the signal to noise ratio (the difference in decibels dB.
between signal and ambient) the better for communication.
• People with hearing impairment require at least a +5dB S/N ratio.
• Audible alarm systems should operate at least 15dB over the
prevailing sound level, with a maximum of 120dB
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If visual display board (such

as LED) is provided, it shall
be able to display the
essence of the information
broadcasted by the public
address system in the
building.