We wanted to recognize and congratulate ASI, Detroit for landing the  custom exterior wayfinding signage for the City of Ferndale, MI. According to Cristina Sheppard-Decius, executive director Ferndale DDA and author Kim North Shine with Metromode, “The first phase of what’s known as a wayfinding system begins in the coming weeks in downtown Ferndale with the installation of eye-catching, user-friendly signs and the launch of online virtual tours to go with them.”

The wayfinding signage system — composed of 30 custom exterior signs, some of which will be illuminated — will be tied to information accessible from any computer or smartphone, letting visitors sync up online information about businesses, history, fun facts, and practical information such as where to park. Two of the signs will be business directory kiosks, and there will be an online walking tour component. The custom exterior signage designs will mimic a marquee such as Radio City, and ASI, Detroit helped with the design and manufacturing of  the custom exterior signs.

Ferndale city planners have seen how well city-wide wayfinding systems work in other cities.  With the number of visitors to downtown Ferndale, the signs make getting around easy and fun and make the city more inviting. “It’s one of those things communities covet. It always seems to come up around town — that when you’re a visitor you can’t seem to find your way. If you’re a resident you have the upper hand. To a visitor it’s a blank slate,” said Cristina Sheppard-Decius, executive director Ferndale DDA.

As we have shown in previous posts, city-wide wayfinding solutions can also help citizens and visitors find important building, like police and fire stations, libraries and hospitals. Let us know if your city has an exterior wayfinding system and how it works for you.