Introduction: Interpretive Signs EP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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Interpretive signs, trail panels, andwayside exhibits are connectors. Theygive meaning to the experience of thevisitor. Their function is to communicatespecific messages to visitors that may beeducational or relate to managementconcerns. Interpretive signs are mostcommonly used for visitor informationkiosks or orientation signs, for self-guidingtrails, or as wayside exhibits at viewingareas or resource management areas.

Interpretive signs will vary greatly incontent and design; therefore, this sectionwill focus on interpretive planning, writingguidelines, and format suggestions.

It is not the intent of this section to controlthe visual look of the finished signs; rather,the intent is to provide guidance indeveloping interpretive signs. Interpretivesigns need to reflect creativity andflexibility, as they relate to specific sites,themes, goals, and objectives.

Interpretive signs are to be used forinterpretive purposes only. Interpretivesigns will not be used to circumventrequirements for approval of, or as areplacement for, Danger, Caution, andWarning signs. Interpretive signs may beused to supplement information abouthazardous areas.

Planning Interpretive Signs

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EP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

It is important at the beginning to have anidea of what interpretive signs are, andwhat “interpretation” is. Interpretation isdefined by Interpretation Canada as:

“A communication process designed toreveal meanings and relationships of ourcultural and natural heritage, to the public,through first-hand involvement withobjects, artifacts, landscapes, and sites.”

The Corps has used this definition, inmodified form, to focus on its missions.The Corps defines interpretation as:

“Communication and education processesprovided to internal and external audi-ences, which support the accomplish-ments of the agency’s missions, tell theagency’s story and reveal the meanings ofand the relationships between natural,cultural, and created environments andtheir features.”

To be “interpretive,” the communicationprocess should be based on InterpretivePrinciples. Freeman Tilden first devel-oped six Interpretive Principles in 1957.Cable and Beck further developed theprinciples. The following are mostpertinent to interpretive signage (Beck,Larry and Ted Cable, 2002, Interpretationfor the 21st Century: Fifteen GuidingPrinciples for Guiding Nature and Culture(2nd Edition), page8):

1. To spark an interest, interpreters mustrelate the subject to the lives of the peoplein their audience.

2. The purpose of interpretation goesbeyond providing information to revealdeeper meaning and truth.

3. The interpretive presentation -- as awork of art -- should be designed as astory that informs, entertains, andenlightens.

4. The purpose of the interpretive story isto inspire and to provoke people tobroaden their horizons.

5. Interpretation should present a com-plete theme or thesis and address thewhole person.

6. Technology can reveal the world inexciting new ways. However, incorporat-ing this technology into the interpretivesign must be done with foresight andthoughtful care.

7. Interpreters must concern themselveswith the quantity and quality (selectionand accuracy) of information presented.

Focused, well-researched interpretationwill be more powerful than a longerdiscourse.

8. Interpretation should instill in peoplethe ability, and the desire, to sense thebeauty in their surroundings – to providespiritual uplift and to encourage resourcepreservation.

Unity is key. Interpretive signs should beintegrated into the project’s sign plan andinterpretive programs. They should notstand alone, but be part of a plannedwhole. There should be unity of themesand of design. In planning interpretivesigns, it is recommended that thefollowing planning model be followed:

1. Resource Analysis. Determine whatresource, object, or concept you will beinterpreting to visitors. Conduct researchto find all the facts, interesting view-points, provocative information, etc., thatyou can about the subject or site.

2. Developing Objectives for InterpretiveSigns. For each interpretive sign orpanel, determine the objectives forinterpretive message(s). These shouldinclude at least one each of the following:

- Learning Objective. Facts or informa-tion you feel are important for the readerto remember. An example of a learningobjective is “the majority of the visitorswill be ale to distinguish a salmon from arainbow trout.”

- Behavioral Objective. Behavioralobjectives are the physical behaviors oractions that you want the visitor to doeither while reading the interpretive sign(e.g. look for, see if you can find, listenfor, etc.) or an action desired after thevisitor has read the sign (e.g. attendmore interpretive programs, be a saferswimmer, wear their PFD when in theboat, etc.).

- Emotional Objective. The emotionalobjective is perhaps the most importantobjective. Unless the visitor is motivatedto “remember” learned information, or“do” the desired behavior, those objec-tives cannot be accomplished. Anexample of an emotional objective is that“after reading the interpretive panel, themajority of the visitors will feel that it isimportant to wear a PFD while in theirboats.”

3. Know Your Visitor. This sectioninvolves considering who the audience isthat will be using the interpretive signs.

Are they boaters, anglers, hikers,campers, etc.? Likewise the demograph-ics of the user (urban, rural, age groups,income, gender, etc.) all play a role indetermining what the content of the signshould be, and how best to relate themessage to the target group.

4. Develop an interpretive theme for thedisplay. The theme must:

- Be based on the goals and objectivesfor the trail, overlook, etc.;

- Contain your key message;

- Be a complete sentence;

- Combine the tangible objects on thetrail with the universal concepts or ideasthat help people relate to this site so theyfind it meaningful in some way.

5. Determining How / When / Where toUse Interpretive Signs. Considerationsinclude site location, how many signs touse, what size they should be, shouldthey be permanent or seasonal, and if asign should be used rather than someother interpretive service or medium.

6. Evaluate Effectiveness. The commu-nication effectiveness of proposedinterpretive signs must be evaluated priorto fabrication, so that necessary changescan be made without incurring majorcosts. This planning step is a review ofthe effectiveness of the interpretive signincluding text, graphics, and totalcommunication presentation. Are theobjectives being met? To evaluateinterpretive signs, some techniquesinclude:

- In-house review;

- Review by a panel of visitors;

- Review by experts (teachers, resourcespecialists, etc.).

7. Implementation and Operations. Thissection of the planning process can beused as a checklist for all the itemsneeded to go from plan to reality. Thisincludes concerns such as:

- Funds available;

- Actual versus desired production time;

- Material selection. See the NaturalResources Management Gateway at

Planning Interpretive Signs (cont’d)

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- Who will review graphics and text?

- Approval steps;

- Who will fabricate the panels?

- Who will install completed signs?

Finding More Information:

For more help in developing qualityinterpretive signage, attend the Interpre-tive Services PROSPECT course or youmay consult the Interpretation page ofthe NRM Gateway at http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/interpretive/interpretive.html.

Among other good references that youmay consult are:

- Interpretation for the 21st Century:Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpret-ing Nature and Culture by Larry Beckand Ted Cable, published by SagamorePublishing of Champaign, Illinois

- Environmental Interpretation: APractical Guide for People with Big Ideasand Small Budgets, by Sam H Ham,North American Press.

- Interpreting for Park Visitors by WilliamJ. Lewis, Eastern Acorn Press.

- Interpreting Our Heritage by FreemanTilden, University of North CarolinaPress

- Signs, Trails, and Wayside Exhibits:Connecting People and Places bySuzanne Trapp, Michael Gross, and RonZimmerman published by the Universityof Wisconsin, Stevens Point.

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/interpretive/sign.html for theadvantages and disadvantages ofvarious materials;

- Who will write the text and do thedesign?

Interpretive Self-Guiding Trail Orientation SignEP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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Self-guiding interpretive trails use twodifferent types of signs: one large trailorientation sign and several smaller trailstation signs located at various sitesalong the trail.

The role of the trail orientation sign is togive the visitor a general overview of whatthe trail is about and what kind of recre-ational experience to expect.

Based on this information, the visitors candecide whether or not to walk the trail.Every trail orientation sign should include:

- The name of the trail;

- Introduce the interpretive theme of thetrail;

- A brief introduction to the trail length andwalking time;

- A map of the trail so visitors can seewhere the trail may take them, and wherethe trail ends;

- Any necessary safety information (e.g.,sturdy hiking shoes recommended, steephills, etc.), or overview of the storyline thetrail will be interpreting (e.g., provide afirsthand look at some of the ways we aremanaging forest resources).

Relate

Relate

Provoke

Relate

Provoke

Interpretive Self-Guiding Trail Station Sign EP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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In planning and developing signs for self-guiding trails it is important to rememberthat the interpretive story for the entiretrail should be developed first. Theneach trail stop interprets a part of thatwhole story. A self-guiding trail shouldnot have more than 7-10 stops.

Each station sign should be considered asub-theme of the main theme. Thesesub-themes reinforce the main themeand are part of the story being told. Likethemes, sub-themes should:

Relate

Provoke

Relate

Provoke

Reveal

Reveal

- Be based on the goals and objectives ofthe trail;

- Support the key message in both its titleand message;

- Be complete sentences;

- Combine the tangible objects withuniversal concepts or ideas that helppeople relate to this station on the trail orthis part of the story.

The last stop on the trail should be theconclusion to your story. It should:

- Relate and restate the theme;

- Reveal and summarize the key points;

- Provoke the visitor to find additionalinformation;

- Direct people, if necessary, to thestarting point.

Interpretive Self-Guiding Trail Station Sign (cont’d)EP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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- Use the message pyramid. Text lengthshould not exceed 50-60 words. If moretext is required, it should be broken upinto several paragraphs of 50 words orless.

- Graphic Selection should be chosen tobest illustrate the concept being commu-nicated, rather than duplicate what thevisitor has already seen.

In general, the design of interpretive trailsigns should follow the following guide-lines:

- Size: 20" x 30"

- Content format will generally be left tothe creativity of the planning team.Planning for the sign should follow theplanning steps presented earlier. Signcontent should employ the InterpretivePrinciples.

- Nonverbal communication: rememberthat the colors, label type style, and labelsize all affect the visitor a communicatepart of the message. For example, a signabout poisonous plants would be moreeffective with red than green because redconnotes danger.

Relate

Provoke

Relate &Reveal

Reveal

Reveal

Interpretive Wayside Panels EP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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- Avoid square panels or large rect-angles. A 5 to 3 or a 5 to 4 ratio is morevisually appealing. Use materials thatare appropriate to your site.

- Content format will generally be left tothe creativity of the planning team.Planning for the sign should follow theplanning steps presented earlier. Signcontent should employ the InterpretivePrinciples.

Relate

Provoke

Relate

Provoke

Reveal

Reveal

Provoke

Relate &Reveal

Reveal

Provoke

Relate &RevealGraphicsRelate &Reveal

Graphics Relate & Reveal

Wayside exhibits are located at points ofinterest such as powerhouses, forestmanagement areas, locks and dams,roadside pull-offs, or vistas and viewingplatforms.

Developing interpretive exhibit panelsfollows the same interpretive planningsteps and use of interpretive techniquesas does developing interpretive trail signs.In general, interpretive exhibit panelsshould follow the same guidelines.

- Text should be kept short. Create amessage pyramid: Title (no more than 5words), subtitle (up to 25 words), text.Each text block should not exceed 50-60words.

- Graphic images have more impact thanwords. Their selection is key to success-fully communicating the concept or topic tothe visitor. The graphics should bestillustrate the concepts, or serve to achieveone or more of the stated objectives of theexhibit panel.

Interpretation GuidelinesEP 310-1-6a01 Jun 06

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Interpreting Cultural Resources

Care must be taken when interpretingany cultural resources or sites becauseof the potential for theft and vandalismproblems.

Corps resource management staffshould seek the advice of their districtarchaeologist in determining how best tointerpret sensitive cultural resources.Sometimes it may be best not tointerpret at all.

Remember the Visitor

In planning and designing interpretivesigns, it is important to remember howpeople learn. Consider the following:

- People learn better when they areactively involved in the learningprocess;

- People learn better when using asmany senses as possible;

- People retain about: - 10% of what they hear, - 30% of what they read, - 50% of what they see, and - 90% of what they do.

Remember this when planning thegraphics and writing the text for interpre-tive signs or exhibit panels.

Hints for Writing Text for Interpretive Signs

1. Keep your sentences short.

2. Avoid using technical or unfamiliarterms, abbreviations, acronyms, andjargon.

3. Write about what visitors can see orexperience.

4. Use active verbs.

5. Add touches of humanity. Use firstperson quotations, make references topeople’s common experiences, and writewith warmth and emotion.

6. Encourage visitor involvement.

7. Use colorful language such as metaphors, puns, quotations, etc.

8. Use Interpretive Principles as devel-oped by Tilden, Cable, and Beck.

9. Do not try to influence the visitor.Present the facts, benefits, and rationaleof the activity and let the visitor decide.

10. Remember to stay focused on thetheme so your writing does not stray fromthe key message in the story.

11. Consider having different themes forthe same trail for different seasons ordifferent interests (e.g. birding trail, botanytrail, history trail, all on the same trail)with different guides for each.

12. Consider access for people withdisabilities in all aspects of trail design.

13. Keep it simple. Make it fun!