More than 80% find modern toilet signs 'irritating'

By James Evison

- Last updated on GMT

More than 80% find modern toilet signs 'irritating'

Related tags Design

Ambiguous toilet signs are driving British consumers ‘potty’, according to new research.

A poll claims 83% of people find complicated toilet signs in public places, such as pubs, ‘irritating’ and 60% have gone into the wrong toilet due to unclear signage.

The survey, undertaken by supplier Ironmongery Direct, also found that less than 1 in 10 found modern toilet signage clever or funny.

Examples of difficult to understand toilet signs includes depictions of animals or scientific annotations, such as XX and XY.

Ironmongery Direct is now offering free toilet signs to the establishment with the most confusing signage, as part of the firm’s ‘Bog Standard’ pledge, which also includes removing confusing products from it’s range.

Wayne Lysaght-Mason, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: "Modern toilet signs are a joke that is in danger of getting out of hand.

“The traditional stick figures of a man and woman to denote which toilet is which, is a British design classic that should be celebrated for both its simplicity and elegance.”

The original ‘classic’ male and female signs were designed for British Rail in the 1960s by the Design Research Unit, who created UK road signs.

Use #BogStandard on twitter and visit: www.IronmongeryDirect.com/Bog

Related topics Marketing Design and Refurbishment

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