Veterinary practice graphics
Half of your waiting room is under two feet tall and nervous. Graphics here have to work at knee height as well as eye height.
Start with the animals' sight lines.
Many practices try to keep cats and dogs apart in the waiting area, because a cat in a carrier staring at a dog is having a bad morning. Graphics can quietly help. Frosted film on a glass partition breaks the view without closing off the room. Floor graphics can lead owners towards separate seating before they have thought about it. Neither replaces good layout, but both are cheaper than building a wall.
The bottom metre of every wall
The lower part of a vet's wall takes claws, wet fur, leads, spills and repeated disinfecting. Treat it as a working surface.
- Keep soft or textured graphics above the reach of a dog standing up.
- Below that, use smooth, laminated vinyl or a wipeable board, or leave the wall plain.
- Avoid edges that a paw or lead can catch. Lifted corners get worse quickly.
Ask us about materials for rooms that stay damp, and tell us which disinfectant you use, so the finish can be tested before it goes across a whole wall.
What goes where
| Location | Job to do | Suggested approach |
|---|---|---|
| Front window | Name, services and the out-of-hours number | Cut vinyl, with the phone number kept separate so that it is simple to change |
| Partitions and door glass | Privacy for consults and calmer animals | Frosted vinyl |
| Waiting room floor | Guiding owners, marking the scales | 3M temporary floor graphics, changed when worn |
| Waiting room walls | Health campaigns and reminders | Posters on a rail or magnetic strip for easy rotation |
| Consulting rooms | Explaining anatomy, weight or dental care | Laminated charts within the vet's reach |
Rotate the health messages
Clients in the waiting room have a few idle minutes, which makes it an ideal place to talk about prevention. The topics change through the year, from parasites in warm weather to fireworks in autumn. Standard A2 or A1 posters that slide into a simple holder cost little and keep the room from looking stale. Put them at eye height, away from the door. Laminated posters survive busy rooms better. Any claims about medicines or treatments should be checked by your clinical team against the rules that apply to veterinary advertising.
Keep one room quiet
Many practices have a room for difficult conversations, or a side door for leaving afterwards. Leave promotions out of these spaces. Plain walls and a single soft image are enough, and nobody there wants to read about a pet insurance offer.
Glass, floors and walls.
Your questions.
Will floor graphics stand up to mopping?
Temporary floor graphics are designed for walking on, but strong chemicals and heavy scrubbing shorten their life. Tell us your floor type and cleaner, and check for slip safety with whoever is responsible for your premises.
Can frosted film carry our logo?
Yes. A logo can be cut out of the frosting, or added to it, to give clear detail against the frosted area.
Should the out-of-hours number go on the window?
It is useful to pet owners who arrive when you are closed, but out-of-hours providers can change. Using a separate piece of vinyl means you can update it without touching the rest.