Last Updated on October 23, 2024
Ever wondered what is meant by fingerpost signage or fingerpost signs? Let’s take a look below.
Table of Contents
What are Fingerpost Signs
You very likely walk past fingerpost signage just about every day, whether it is on the way to work or when using a transportation hub, or when walking through a university campus.
Finger posts are pretty much as you would expect from the name in that this type of signage means a signpost which has what look like fingers pointing out from the main base.
This type of post can have one or many arms and the arms will sometimes have arrows drawn on them or the shape of the arm itself will be designed so as to be shaped as an arrow (i.e. pointed arrow-like end part).
Fingerpost signage is a type of signage used in public areas, such as on highways, roads, and pathways. It is typically made from either metal or wood and features an arm (or “finger”) that points in the direction of a particular destination.
The main purpose of fingerpost signage is to provide directional assistance for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
This can be especially helpful when navigating unfamiliar areas, as it helps to ensure people arrive at their destination safely and quickly.
Fingerpost signage is typically placed in highly visible locations, such as on the side of a road or near an intersection.
It may also be accompanied by other types of signage, such as signs indicating distances and estimated times for walking and driving.
Some might also include maps or diagrams of the surrounding area, making it easier for people to find their way.
The design and construction of fingerpost signage is quite simple yet effective.
The arms can be angled in different directions, which allows for easy and accurate orientation of the sign.
This helps to ensure that passersby will be able to easily understand the direction or destination indicated by the signage.
Overall, fingerpost signage is an effective way of providing directional assistance for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
Whether it’s used in a city center or in an isolated area, these signs are a highly visible and reliable way of indicating directions or destinations.
By helping people safely reach their destination quickly, fingerpost signage is essential for efficient navigation in public spaces.
Materials You Can Use for Finger Post Signage
Fingerposts can come in a variety of materials, although most often they will be designed with:
- Wood
- Aluminum
- Casted Bronze
Benefits
- Strong and durable (so perfect as outdoor signage)
- Relatively cheap
- They can be designed in pretty much any style
- Good in terms of visibility. By this I mean that many people can normally view fingerpost signage at the same time, as opposed to a ‘You are here‘ map (for which you can often only get 2 or 3 people close up to it at a time)
- Quite easy to maintain i.e. in comparison to digital signage and also versus other less durable options.
Dr Paul Symonds has a PhD in Wayfinding from Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK. Paul works with the signage industry, airports and other locations providing wayfinding audits, consultancy and training.
