In most places, signs telling you to pick up after your dog are forgettable and not particularly interesting, I think you will agree.
But every so often, you stumble across signage so clever, so visually bold, or so perfectly tuned to its environment that it becomes something else entirely: a visitor experience moment.
That’s exactly what I found on a recent walk through Benchakitti Dog Park in Bangkok, Thailand. Nestled
within the larger Benchakitti Park and not far from the iconic Lumphini Park, this little corner for our four
legged friends is full of bright yellow signage that’s playful, purposeful, and perfectly executed.
And yes, it’s full of wayfinding lessons for park and trail planners.
Table of Contents
5 Design Lessons from a Park in Bangkok
1. Clear, Icon-Based Messaging Works Wonders
The signs at Benchakitti Dog Park don’t bury the message in paragraphs of rules. Instead, they speak in
visuals and bold icons.
One sign shows a clean symbol of a dog doing its business, paired with an equally bold “scoop it” icon. Simple, universal, and immediately understood.
Why it works:
- Relies on universal icons rather than lengthy text
- Makes it easy for non-native speakers and kids to understand
- Instantly communicates urgency and responsibility with humor
2. Tone of Voice Matters—Even in a Dog Park
Instead of stern warnings, the tone is cheeky:
“Your dog did his duty. Please do yours.”
Or even better:
“Love the dog. Hate the poo.”
This playful language softens the command. It makes people smile and when people smile, they’re more
likely to comply. That’s visitor experience management (VEM) 101.
When your park or trail signs feel like they’re scolding people, visitors check out and are more likely to ignore the signage.
But when the tone invites participation and makes you feel part of something shared? That’s when behavior changes.
3. Shape and Placement as Engagement Tools
The signs themselves are shaped like dogs and are cutouts in bright yellow with clean print and minimalist icons.
Some are mounted on posts, while others are staked low in the grass or mounted on trees, making them feel like part of the landscape, not just functional additions.
These signs aren’t just wayfinding, they’re placemaking.
4. Multilingual and Inclusive by Design
Many signs are bilingual (Thai and English), and even where there’s no translation, the icons carry the
message across linguistic boundaries.
That’s an essential element in any park signage strategy, especially in globally visited cities or multicultural regions.
Universally understandable signs are vital both in wayfinding and VEM (Visitor Experience Management).
5. Reinforcement Through Repetition Without Clutter
Unlike over-signed parks that cram every rule into one overloaded board, these dog park signs spread out messages, one theme per sign.
This modular, clean layout approach means visitors take in messages and incrementally as they move through the space.
It’s a simple but often overlooked lesson in sign hierarchy and placement.
So What Can Trail and Park Designers Learn?
Whether you’re creating a full wayfinding plan or just revisiting your trailhead signage, there are clear takeaways from Bangkok’s quirky dog signage:
- Use icons boldly and test them with diverse audiences
- Make signs part of the experience, not just background noise
- Use tone and language that respect and engage, rather than lecture
- Design for movement and how messages are delivered across space matters
The Power of Humor in Public Signage
One of the most underused tools in park signage is humour.
It’s rare to find trail or park messages that make people laugh or even smile, and yet humor can be a powerful behavioral motivator.
In Benchakitti Park, the dog-shaped signs that say, “Even if no one sees you… clean up after your dog,” make the message stick in your mind without guilt-tripping.
This works for two reasons:
- It disarms resistance – people are less defensive when the tone is light.
- It creates memorability – visitors are more likely to recall and repeat funny signs.
For public spaces, especially parks where you want to build a culture of shared responsibility, this kind of engagement is golden. Humor adds warmth to wayfinding and makes repeat visits more enjoyable.
Consider this for your next signage audit: Could you lighten the tone, add a touch of local flavor, or even create a mascot character to convey key messages?
When done right, even serious topics like hygiene, safety, and respect can come wrapped in a grin.
This is why we’ve developed a full Parks & Trails Wayfinding and Visitor Experience Checklist Pack, a toolkit to help planners, park managers, and consultants improve signage, accessibility, flow, and messaging across public landscapes.
Next time you think “people just ignore the signs,” remember it’s not always their fault. Sometimes the signs
just aren’t worth noticing.
But when they are? You get cleaner parks, happier visitors, and maybe even a smile.
See more posts on Wayfinding & VEM in parks and bay trails.
