Pictorial push pull signs for doors are intended to avoid confusion. In English the words PUSH and PULL are both four letters long and contain the same first two letters. For people in a hurry it is easy to confuse. For people with Dyslexia the chances of error are even higher.

In International cities there will be visitors from around the world who do not necessarily speak the language of the particular country.
Regardless of language, a picture is always more noticeable and more quickly understood than words.

Door types which have Push and Pull Signs

Glass hinged front doors found at small food, coffee and retail outlets are the most commonly seen use of Push and Pull signs. Solid wooden hinged doors and internal hinged doors may also have Push and Pull signs.

External links

• "Assessment of Push/Pull Door Signs" - A Laboratory and Field Study by Professor Theresa J B Kline, Gerald A Beitel, University of Calgary 1994
• Slough Observer Midweek Newspaper Article - To Push or Pull Dilemma Solved - by Jonathan Kelly - July 2011
• Sign Update Magazine - Sept/Oct 2011 - Sign Trade Magazine Article and Product News - Push Pull Pictograms - Features Editor - Janet Brennan
• Civic & Public Building Projects magazine - "Could a picture push pull door sign help in a public building?" - 4th October 2011
• Signage Firm Pushed to Reinvent the Wheel - 10th October 2011
• Winner of the PUSH-PULL Pictogram Design Challenge - Written by Lindsay Jones Art Director, Denver, Colorado, USA - 20th October 2011
• Main www.pushpullsigns.com website - push pull signs with bowed doors - Background - Sign Details - EU Design Registrations - USA Design Patent - Trademarks