Flushed with confusion: Design dilemmas spark online debate over restroom signage

A recent incident at a shopping mall, where an elderly man mistakenly entered a women's restroom due to confusing English signage, has sparked widespread online discussions. In response, the mall issued an apology and revamped its restroom signage.

Netizens have shared their own experiences encountering perplexing restroom symbols in various public spaces, such as malls, hotels, tourist attractions, and hospitals.

Online posts highlighted a range of bewildering restroom signs, including geometric combinations, artistic patterns like Peking Opera masks and Dunhuang murals, and English-only signs that create barriers for non-English readers. Some signs are inconspicuously placed, adding to the difficulty in identifying restroom locations.

A resident from Tongling, Anhui province, recounted her embarrassment with abstract restroom signs in a Shenzhen mall, featuring a dot above a triangle. Similar experiences were shared by others, emphasizing the need for simpler, more universally understandable designs.

While some netizens called for straightforward "men" and "women" designations, others appreciated the aesthetic value of creative graphical signage.

However, the lack of specific requirements for restroom signage in the 2016 urban public restroom design standard by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has contributed to a variety of confusing designs.

Designers noted that commercial establishments often prioritize aesthetics over practicality, leading to the prevalence of confusing signs. Client demands for unique styles contribute to the diversity of restroom signage, with some opting for simplistic, abstract drawings.

Professor Zhao Xiuchi from the Capital University of Economics and Business emphasized the need for clear and conspicuous restroom gender signage, discouraging overly innovative designs.

Zhao suggested establishing a standard for restroom signage design, with basic gender-specific text signage as a prerequisite and innovation based on the standard.