Let me tell you a story. A story filled with confusion, heartache, bureaucracy, and a rogue Jeep. A story that proves—without a shadow of a doubt—how poor signage can ruin lives. Okay, maybe not lives… but definitely days.
It started in a downtown parking garage, late one evening after a long day of travel. I parked my rental Jeep, took a mental snapshot of the surroundings (Level 2, right by the elevator), rode down one floor, and headed around the corner to my Airbnb. No drama, no confusion—just a quick and easy end to a long day.
The next morning, I came back to retrieve the Jeep. I entered the same elevator, pressed the button for Level 2, and stepped out. Only this time… no Jeep. Confused, I looked around, walked a few rows in either direction, and started questioning everything. Had I misremembered the floor? Did I park on Level 3? Level 1?
I proceeded to ride the elevator to every floor in the garage—from the bottom to the top—searching in circles, scanning every row, and slowly realizing I wasn’t just lost. The car was gone.
So, I did what most of us would do in that moment of panic: I reported it stolen. I called the police, filed a report, contacted the rental company, and spent the rest of my day talking to insurance agents instead of attending the team gatherings I had flown in for. It was stressful, exhausting, and more than a little frustrating.
And then… I heard it.
A faint chirp
There it was: my Jeep. Sitting safely in a quiet corner of the garage. Not on Level 1. Not on Level 2. But on a mysterious, in-between level that wasn’t clearly marked on any of the signs.
In the elevator, it was listed only as “M”—a single letter with no explanation. I had assumed it meant “Maintenance,” a level below the first floor. But in reality, it was a functional parking level between floors 1 and 2—exactly where I had parked. The entire day had been derailed by a tiny detail on a poorly labeled sign.
What This Has to Do With Church Spaces
While most people walking into your church probably aren’t looking for a missing rental car, they are navigating something unfamiliar. New guests are arriving with questions they may not even feel comfortable asking:
- Where do I park?
- Where do I drop off my kids?
- Which hallway leads to the worship center?
- Is this the entrance… or the staff office?
When the signage isn’t clear—or worse, when it assumes people already know where they’re going—it doesn’t take long for frustration, uncertainty, and anxiety to creep in. And here’s the reality: when people can’t find their way in — they most likely won’t find their way back.
Wayfinding Is More Than Arrows
At Enviropop, our mission is to design and create spaces that prioritize people, and that starts with helping them feel confident and at ease from the moment they step onto your property. Great signage isn’t just directional—it’s intentional.
It’s the first conversation you have with someone who may not know what to expect. It says: “We’ve thought about your experience, and we want to make it simple, clear, and welcoming.”
When signage is intuitive, people don’t need to ask for help. They feel guided, not lost. And that’s the kind of hospitality that makes an impact.
What I Learned
I didn’t lose my Jeep. I lost time, energy, and peace of mind because the environment didn’t communicate clearly. And I’ve realized that’s not all that different from what many church guests experience on a Sunday.
They’re not just looking for a seat—they’re looking for clarity. They’re hoping not to feel out of place. And sometimes, all it takes is the right sign at the right time to make them feel like they belong.
If your space needs clearer signage, better flow, or a fresh perspective— we’d love to help/strong>. Let’s design something that makes people feel seen, supported, and confident in where they’re going… no panic button required.
