At WL Concepts, we have found both clients and the sign industry don't always have a full understanding of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signage. They seem to think that in order to meet federal guidelines they must give up style. We are very proud of our ADA signage which meets all regulations without sacrificing elegance and flair.
ADA Signs Don't Have To Be Dull
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Prototype of ADA Signage for a hotel retro - fit
Corian ADA compliant signage with Tactile & Braille used in a Federal Courthouse
When the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was first passed, it was common for the signs produced to be very simple. There was a lot of attention on meeting ADA regulations on display signage, focusing on the functional details such as the location of Braille or using non-glare finishes. Some designers seemed to lose sight of creativity and many signs were bare and lifeless.
Clients were sometimes unhappy with the results, as these signs didn't fit into the design of the establishment. A well-crafted decor incorporates elements such as paint and carpet colors, furniture styles, even the fonts used on the signs. Some signs produced didn't fit the theme and clashed with the look of the business. WL Concepts creates ADA signage that is both functional and attractive.
Look At Our ADA Signage
Of course the most important aspect of these signs is their function, giving vision impaired employees and customers full access to the facilities within your business. Our designers have learned ways to take the functional elements and blend them with your decor rather than making them stand out.
High contrast displays can use a color palette based on your interior design. If your palette doesn't give sufficient contrast we have a few tricks up our sleeve. We use transitional elements on the edge of the sign to blend the high contrast display into your decor. Textured backgrounds and san serif fonts don't interfere with readability but add interesting elements to the display. Our Braille characters are incorporated into the design rather than being simply stamped on top of it. Because the tactile portion and Braille characters are seamlessly integrated, you probably wouldn't even realize you were looking at ADA signage.
Raised Lettering Poses Unique Challenges
ADA specifications on raised lettering have limited creativity on some sign designs. It limits the inclusion of other design elements that may obscure the letters and interfere with a person feeling and distinguishing the letters. However we found a way around that.
Some of our ADA signage contains the same text twice. One text meets the visible requirements, such as high contrast, but incorporates raised elements that add to the design without interfering with the appearance. The second set uses raised letters that meet the tactile requirements, which contrasts with the sign so as not to distract from the visible letters.
Any designer of visual displays must balance the look of the piece with its purpose. ADA signage may present specific requirements, but overall are not different than other custom displays. Don't settle for boring signs. Let WL Concepts design vibrant and beautiful ADA-compliant displays for your business.
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