Signs aren’t just for the outdoors: lobby signs, also known as reception area signs, are a type of interior sign that serve a variety of purposes for your business, including branding, wayfinding, and distribution of information. In fact, lobby signs are the most popular type of interior sign.

Interior signs

Interior signs are exactly what they sound like: signs that reside indoors. They are a must for any enterprise in the Chicago area, whether your aim is to close sales, help visitors navigate your building, or build your brand. In fact, professionally-made interior signs will even help churches, schools, office complexes, and nonprofits fulfill their vision.

There are some indoor signs that are legally required if you have a facility that is open to the general public. Other markers are not necessary but will help improve the experience for your customers—such as lobby signs. Some of the interior signs property managers and business owners commonly need are menu boards, floor graphics, and wall graphics.

Any of these interior sign options are considered a lobby sign if it is placed in the lobby or reception area of your business:

Menu Boards

You may be most familiar with seeing these signs in restaurants, but they are also an excellent option for any enterprise that has a long list of services or products.

Floor Graphics

With everyone looking down at their cellphones, the new eye level is the floor. Floor graphics will get your message in front of more people.

Wall Graphics

Commonly called wall murals and digitally printed wallpaper, wall graphics will transform the environment of your store, restaurant, or office.

One of their most important functions, lobby signs can make a space more aesthetically pleasing, making better use of bare walls and providing a more welcoming space to attract and keep your clients. Especially for businesses that see a lot of foot traffic or have a waiting area (such as doctor’s offices), having a functional yet decorated lobby or reception area is critical.

Lobby signs are appropriate for a variety of business types, including salons, auto dealerships, professional offices, retail stores, and more. They can communicate information, provide branding, or simply bring an element of calm to the area by way of art and aesthetics.

This guide provides the ins and outs of lobby signs in Chicago, helping you make the investment you need to help your company succeed.

Choosing lobby signs

Determining the appropriate signage for your business requires careful analysis. Purchasing signage is an investment for your business, and as a large investment, you want to make sure you choose the size and style that best suits your needs. Examining your business needs and goals, first and foremost, is imperative in determining the right sign options to accomplish your goals.

What are lobby signs?

When customers enter your business, lobby signs, or reception area signs, are the first sign they see. These signs help customers know they have found the right place. They also provide branding and marketing for your enterprise. There are several lighting and mounting options for lobby signs. And, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative application.

Lobby signs can benefit every kind of organization or company. Lobby signs are an excellent way to make better use of bland, bare walls in your entrance or reception areas. Rather than bare walls or unremarkable artwork, use lobby signs to invite customers and inform them about who you are. Lobby signs provide an inviting environment for customers and clients.

Lobby signs are most commonly comprised of PVC, wood, metal, and/or acrylic materials. And, by using high-speed routers, materials can be cut to any shape or size to perfectly match your current branding.

Materials used for lobby signs

There is a wide variety of materials that can be used in interior signs and lobby signs. Here are just a few of the most common and most diverse options:

• Acrylic Letters – Acrylic letters are known for being crisp, shiny, and dressy. They are available in a wide array of standard colors, or they can be custom painted to match your branding. There are a couple of different mounting methods based on the effect you want. The letters can either be flush mounted or stood off the wall for a dimensional effect.
• Metal Letters – Aluminum is typically used for metal letters. These letters can be routed to precisely match the font of your other marketing materials. Another option is metal laminate, which is a cheaper alternative that has the same effect as an all-metal sign.
• Illuminated Lobby Signs – This is a new offering that is growing in popularity due to the huge impact it has. These back-lit lobby signs give off a feeling of innovation and elegance. LED lights are used for illuminated lobby signs.
• Lobby Plaques – Lobby plaques are most commonly acrylic, but can also be frosted to provide an opaque background, which is particularly useful when hiding wall defects. Graphics can be printed vinyl or dimensional (acrylic or metal) or a combination of both. Plaques are mounted to the wall with studs and custom screw covers which add to the plaque’s elegance. Plaques can also be removed and relocated more easily than individual letters, which is less damaging to the wall.

Lobby signs can be used in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. Lobby signs are a great investment for your business if you wish to:

Make consumers feel comfortable and welcome

Visitors and customers of your business should feel immediately comfortable, which is difficult to accomplish with stark, barren walls. Ensure the comfort of your clients and visitors by making use of lobby signs in your reception area to provide a warm and welcoming environment.

Display your business slogans or mottos

What is your business about? Make sure visitors and clients know exactly who you are and what you do by making use of lobby signs to display business slogans, mottos, and even your logo. This is a unique branding opportunity and is informative for your visitors.

Provide a visual representation of the areas you serve

Your business is multifaceted, and consumers should know all that you do. Providing a visual representation of the different areas your business serves can provide an aesthetically pleasing reception area that educates your visitors about all aspects of your brand.

Set your individual office or suite apart from the other tenants

Do you share office space? Use lobby signs to set your business apart from others on your floor or in your building. Your business is distinct, so make sure you don’t blend into the background, especially if the neighboring businesses you share space with have their own lobby signs in place.

Provide directional cues

Lobby signs can serve the important function of providing directional cues to different areas of your store or office. This is especially important if you have multiple rooms, offices, or departments to direct visitors or customers to. Don’t let your customers get lost in a maze!

Display accolades

You’ve worked hard and earned accolades and awards, and your customers should know it. Use lobby signs to display your accomplishments prominently. It gives credibility to your business, and it’s a conversation starter with potential clients.

Creative uses for lobby signs

Bare office walls are stuffy, boring, and a thing of the past. Businesses today bring a culture of inclusion and vibrancy to employees and customers alike, and lobby signs are an excellent way to translate this cultural shift to make your customers feel welcome and open to doing business with you.

Every business has unique needs, but all businesses can benefit from enhancing their interior workspace. Below are 5 creative lobby sign ideas that can be used across the board, regardless of what type of business you are heading up.

Branded collage

A branded collage on a lobby wall is a fun way to turn your space into a canvas that tells the story of your company’s brand and mission. Walls, windows, floors, doors, and ceilings can all be used as real estate to brand your business and add visual complexity to your lobby.

Acrylic hanging signs

Hanging signs add visual interest to your lobby, providing branding and recognition upon first entering the space. Lobby signs can be hung or mounted using a variety of hanging/mounting solutions, including cable and rod displays.

Acrylic can be used in creative ways to add color and dimension to your lobby signs. Acrylic can be used as both the primary sign panel or the components of the sign assembly (such as lettering). In the event that standard acrylic colors do not match your company’s branding perfectly, acrylic can be painted using pantone colors.

3D signs

3D signs make your brand pop, promoting brand recognition from the moment a customer enters your lobby. 3D signs can provide increased visibility of your business’s brand, and considering the amount of information your customers take in all day, making your business recognizable and memorable only serves to help you attract a loyal customer base. 3D signs can use a range of materials, from acrylics to neon and backlighting.

Wall murals

An interesting way to make use of your lobby space is to print wall mural signage. Though these graphics can be printed on a variety of materials, they are commonly printed on textured adhesive vinyl. Murals are an excellent option for showcasing your logo and brand, communicating your mission statement, displaying employee recognitions, using brand imagery to make a statement, or even enhancing your office space with the use of calming visuals (think: forests, beaches, and soothing color schemes).

Custom window signs

Window signs aren’t only for your building’s exterior. By utilizing window graphics inside, you can enhance the look and feel of your glass doors, conference rooms, and offices. Custom window graphics can make an excellent “privacy film” for your training rooms, conference rooms, and offices, enhancing privacy while also supporting your company’s brand and mission.

How Vital Signs USA can help

If lobby signage is the right sign style for your business’s needs, Vital Signs USA can work with you as the premier sign provider and installer in the Chicago area. Vital Signs USA can help design the right lobby and reception signs to meet your needs, and then build and install them for you too!

Vital Signs USA works with the highest-quality materials to help you achieve your vision. Professional, friendly and responsive service is a hallmark of Vital Signs USA’s business. Vital signs USA has the expertise and resources to ensure your project is completed in a timely and cost-effective manner, too!

Vital Signs USA works with clients locally, regionally, and nationally, traveling to many different communities to provide top quality signs. Vital Signs USA’s service area includes all of metropolitan Chicago, including Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, DuPage County, and Schaumburg.

Get a free quote on custom lobby signs that will speak to your company’s brand today, and visit vitalsignsusa.com to learn more about how Vital Signs USA can help your business’s branding succeed.