Design Shouldn’t Make You Think: A Lesson from a Restroom Sign
I was recently in my hometown with my family, celebrating my parents wedding anniversary at a restaurant. The place was lovely, great food, peaceful surroundings, cozy with great vibe. And then I got up to use the restroom, which should’ve been a quick and routine thing turned into a surprisingly confusing moment.
There were two restroom doors, Two beautiful, artistically crafted icons. Stylish, yes. But helpful? Not really. I stood there for a good 10, maybe 30 seconds trying to figure out which door was meant for men and which for women. The icons were clearly chosen to match the hotel’s aesthetic and they looked more like pieces of art than functional signs.
Just then, my mom walked up behind me. She paused too. We looked at each other and had one of those silent, awkward “Uhh… which one do we go into?” moments. Eventually, we figured it out but it got me thinking. I sat back down at the table and casually watched other guests approach the restrooms. Sure enough, the same thing happened. People slowed down. Squinted at the signs. A few even asked the staff for help.
Now, this might sound like a small thing, but as someone who works in design, it really stayed with me. Because design is supposed to help not confuse.
"Design Isn’t Just Decoration, It’s Communication"
I get it the businesses want to stand out and they want to feel unique, have a certain vibe, express a brand personality and that often shows up in interior design, including signage.
But there’s a line:
When you replace simple, universally understood symbols with abstract or culturally specific icons like stylized masks or artistic silhouettes you create friction. People have to pause and think. And when that happens in places like restrooms, airports, or hospitals that’s a usability problem.
Some design elements are just too important to over complicate. Restroom signs are a perfect example. They’re universal tools of wayfinding that help people navigate, no matter where they are or what language they speak. There are actually standards for these like ISO 7001 which provide clear, intuitive symbols used all over the world. Think of the classic stick figures, or the triangle vs. inverted triangle system. You see them in airports, malls, train stations and you don’t have to stop and think. In Japan, they even use color codes: blue for men, red for women. Sometimes it’s just the colors, and that works too. It’s seamless. It just works.
Small Changes, Big Impact
If you’re a architect, or business owner, here’s a quick reminder: Design should be simple and clear first.
Use globally recognized icons
Add text labels
Don’t over complicate things that should be simple
Design with empathy, not just elegance
These small choices can make a big difference in someone’s experience.
A Quick UX Lesson from a Restroom
That little moment in Wayanad stuck with me. It was such a simple thing standing in front of two restroom doors but it said a lot. As a UX designer, I spend my days thinking about how people move through spaces, both digital and physical. And in both, the principle is the same:
Don’t make people work harder than they need to,
Good design isn’t just about making something look good. It’s about making things easier, More intuitive, More human. Because honestly, no one should feel awkward just trying to find the restroom.