At Destination by Design, we partner with civic leaders across the U.S. to plan, build, and promote vibrant places. Our services include community branding, trail and park planning, wayfinding signage design, and destination marketing- all aimed at boosting quality of life and economic vitality. Looking to move your community forward? View services and contact us today.

Why Wayfinding is Good for Tourism

For visitors, first impressions often start on the road—or on the trail. Wayfinding signage sets a positive tone from the moment they arrive. More than directional indicators, well-placed signage connects travelers with the experiences, landmarks, and hidden gems that make your community worth visiting. When signs are strategically designed and placed, they:

Improve visitor flow through high-traffic areas

Lead travelers to lesser-known attractions

Encourage exploration of downtown shops, restaurants, and public spaces

Reinforce the community’s brand identity and sense of place

Design That Speaks Your Community’s Language

Building a Cohesive Identity

Signage design is an extension of your community brand. Colors, fonts, materials, and iconography should align with your visual identity so that every sign feels like part of a bigger story. Consistency builds trust- and trust encourages exploration.

Creating a
Sense of Place

Tourists don’t just want to get from Point A to Point B- they want to feel immersed in the destination experience. Custom signage will incorporate local history, culture, or artistic elements that give visitors a deeper connection to your community.

Guiding Visitors Beyond the Obvious

Tourism directors often focus on marquee attractions, but effective wayfinding expands the map. By directing visitors to lesser-known trails, scenic overlooks, cultural sites, and historic districts, you spread tourism dollars more evenly across your community. This reduces congestion in popular areas and breathes life into under-visited districts.

The Pedestrian Perspective

While road signs receive considerable attention, pedestrian-focused signage is equally essential for tourism. Once visitors are parked, they need confidence to navigate on foot. Adding walking maps, informational kiosks, confidence markers, gateway monuments, and directional signs creates a safe, inviting environment for strolling- especially in downtown shopping districts or public parks and green spaces.

Keeping Information Current and Clear

Outdated or damaged signage can undermine the credibility of a district or area and create confusion for visitors. Conducting regular assessments ensures that information remains accurate, reflects new destinations, and responds to evolving traffic patterns. Proactive maintenance not only enhances the visitor experience- it also reinforces brand integrity by presenting a system that is current, intentional, and well cared for.

Partnering With Experts in Place-Based Economic Development

When it comes to designing a signage system that truly supports tourism, partnering with a planning and design firm experienced in place-based economic development is essential. Destination by Design works with civic leaders nationwide to:

Plan strategic signage placement
Design systems that enhance visitor flow and experience
Align visual design with community branding
Incorporate tourism marketing goals into physical wayfinding solutions

The result? A signage system that guides visitors while boosting local spending, strengthening brand recognition, and promoting long-term tourism growth.

Ready to Put Your Signage to Work?

Your tourism strategy doesn’t end at the welcome sign- it’s woven into every directional sign, every gateway, and every confidence marker. With custom wayfinding signage design, your community can transform casual pass-through traffic into engaged, loyal visitors.

Destination by Design can help you plan, design, and implement a custom signage system that works as hard as you do to promote your community. Let’s start building your tourism advantage.