Brecon Beacons National Park

Advantages of printed and graphic interpretation

All types of printed and graphic interpretation:

• can be unobtrusive in an area

• have good initial impact

• encourage the use of a variety of senses

• can be creative

• people can use them on their own and at their own pace

• some can be used in bad weather

Leaflets, publications and trail guides:

• can be used on and off site

• can earn revenue

• can be cheap to produce per unit

• have souvenir value - can be taken home

• can alter language to suit audience

• are portable and pocket-sized

• do not intrude on landscape

• can involve partner organisations such as shops, pubs and B&Bs as distribution outlets

• can include more information than a panel

• can help orientation and navigation

Outdoor panels:

• available 24/7

• focus attention on specific features

• can reach a large audience

• easy for people to use

• do not need supervision

• can help orientate visitors

• low maintenance

Indoor panels:

• indoor panels/exhibitions can be secure

• easier to be interactive than outdoor panels

Disadvantages of printed and graphic interpretation

All types of printed and graphic interpretation:

• need good design and writing

• can require high initial financial outlay

• may be ignored and left unread

• are inflexible and dated once produced

Leaflets, publications and trail guides:

• require effective distribution

• revenue collection can be difficult with numerous small outletscan be potential litter

• have to compete for attention with numerous other publications
  

• may need re-printing regularly

Outdoor panels:

• may require planning permission

• expensive to produce and install

• need regular maintenance and upkeep

• vulnerable to damage by weather, vandalism, animals

• can intrude on landscape

• can cause erosion around sign

• inflexible

• static

• are widely used and may therefore become ignored

Indoor panels:

• need space/building

• only available when building open

• immobile

• if high tech, prone to breaking