Universal symbols are an important new innovative tool for health facility wayfinding systems. Universal symbols help create dynamic systems where patients and visitors feel more comfortable and confident while navigating in a health care facility. If you are ready to use health care symbols in your wayfinding system you are in the right place.
Please complete this short survey to help us learn how these symbols will be used. Your comments will help us develop this website and prepare us to meet your needs in the future.
Fifty-four (54) health care symbols are available: 12 for administrative or facility services, 32 for clinical or medical destinations and 10 for imaging services. All symbols are in the public domain, and free to anyone who wishes to use them, thanks to generosity of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Simply down load what you need from this site, written permission is not needed and there are no fees associated. Symbol copyright © 2010 aims to protect the image, not to restrict their use.
To learn how these symbols were developed and tested click here or About Symbols on the side bar.
To see how innovator health facilities are using symbols in signage click or on in the side bar
Artwork for universal health care symbols can be downloaded from this website in PDF format. This means they can be opened and read in Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as most vector-based software programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, AUTOCAD, etc. Vector-based software will allow the symbols to be accessed as artwork and used for other applications such as signs.
Kit of Parts refers to a set of key documents developed to help with implementation of health care symbols.
All the documents listed here can be downloaded at no cost – just click on the title. The Kit of Parts includes:
SYMBOL POSTER (11x17)
All 54 symbols with the referent tested are available as a poster. The poster is set to print 11x17 but printer setting can be used to print on regular 8x10 paper. Click here to download the poster.
SYMBOLS ARTWORK - Zip Files with all 54 Symbols
Artwork for individual symbols is available in EPS and PDF formats without associated referents. These files are intended to enable use of artwork with associated referents in the font type and size appropriate to each project. Use the referent code in the table below to identify referents tested for each symbol.
Click here to download Symbols in PDF Format
Click here to download Symbols in EPS Format
Click here to download Symbols in EPS Mac Format
| NOTE: Design software is not needed to develop production ready files using the artwork provided here. Local fabrication vendors should be able to work with production files created in Microsoft Word and saved as PDF files. Consult your local printer, sign production or graphic design professionals for how to best use this artwork to meet your signage or wayfinding needs. |
BEST PRACTICE WORKBOOKS
Developing a Symbols-Based Wayfinding System: Implementation Guidebook.This is a 66 page guidebook that describes five important elements for effective planning and implementation of a signage project using graphic symbols. It includes planning tools and case examples drawn from the four innovator sites implementing symbols signage and other best case examples.
Part 1: Formulating a Symbols-Based Wayfinding Strategy
Part 2: Destination Hierarchy and Referent Naming
Part 3: Design and Development Using Symbols
Part 4: Design Testing and Analysis
Part 5: Symbol Support and Education
To download the report click here.
Universal Symbols in Health Care Workbook. This is a 30 page workbook covers the importance of universal symbols, the benefits they provide to hospitals and healthcare facilities and offers practical suggestions for implementation taken from best practices in other fields that effectively use symbols as part of their wayfinding systems. This report was developed in 2005 based on symbol testing experience with four test sites.
To download the report click here.
Symbols are now available for the following referents common in health care wayfinding systems. Artwork can be downloaded from this website in PDF format. This means they can be opened and read in Adobe Acrobat Reader, as well as most vector-based software programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, AUTOCAD, etc. Vector-based software will allow the symbols to be accessed as artwork and used for other applications such as signs.
The next set of symbols are designed to be used for administrative or non clinical locations and services.
A palate of imaging symbols was developed to test two different approaches of symbol design.
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Symbols based signage systems can also be enhanced with several Department of Transportation symbols that are appropriate for use in health care settings. Click here to see these symbols.
Accessibility |
Hearing Assistance |
Restrooms |
Coffee Shop |
Hospital |
Smoking |
Drinking Fountain |
Information/US |
Stairs |
Elevators |
No Smoking |
Telephone |
Fire Extinguisher |
Nursery |
Volume Control |
Gift Shop |
Restaurant |
First Aid |
The Federal Highway Administration also has a symbol set (available on www.aiga.org) designed for airports and train stations with symbols that are commonly used in hospitals and other public buildings.
- Why would I use symbols in my sign system?
- Where can I get the symbols for use on signs?
- How much does it cost to use the symbols?
- Can I change the symbols?
- Can I make small changes to these symbols?
- What does wayfinding mean?
- I don’t see some symbols that I need. Why not?
- Why were these referents chosen to develop symbols?
- How were the symbols designed?
- What is the significance of ≤87 and >87 to the testing?
- Did all the symbols in this set receive scores >87?
- Will there be additional symbols developed?
- Can I use these symbols as a logo for my medical business?
- Our facility could use the symbols, but some of the referents differ from our terminology. Can we still use the symbols?
