By Jimmie Castillo, Project Designer at Modulex.
As a Project Designer at Modulex, I spend a lot of time translating ideas into clear, workable signage plans. One part of that process, marking all the signs on a floor plan, was new to me at the time. Without a dedicated tool like Wayfindit in my workflow yet, I did what felt logical: I opened Illustrator.
At first, it seemed like the perfect solution. A few clicks here, a few duplicates there, and I could replicate what was needed. The task itself felt simple, just marking a plan with a handful of signs. A small step in a typical signage project. But as I quickly discovered, that “small step” didn’t stay small for long.
The “Simple” Task That Wasn’t So Simple
Illustrator gave me flexibility. I could move elements freely, adjust colours, and edit text without limitations. On paper, it worked. In practice, however, the process became increasingly inefficient as the project grew.
What started as a manageable task soon became time-consuming and repetitive. Every revision meant manually repositioning elements. Any change in scale required reworking the entire layout. While this might be manageable for a handful of signs, it quickly became overwhelming once a site included dozens, sometimes more than 50. That’s when the task stopped being straightforward and started becoming mentally exhausting.
When the Wrong Tool Almost Works
The challenge wasn’t whether I could complete the task; I could. The issue was that the tool I was using wasn’t designed for this type of work.
I found myself trying to bridge that gap by creating shortcuts, experimenting with scripts, and looking for ways to automate repetitive steps. Ironically, I was spending more time thinking about how to fix the process than actually completing it. I was working harder, not smarter, and slowly backing myself into a corner without realising that a better solution was already available.
That solution was Wayfindit.
A “Quality of Life” Upgrade
There’s a term in gaming I’ve always liked: quality of life improvement. It refers to something that doesn’t change the end goal but makes the entire experience smoother, more efficient, and far less frustrating.
That’s exactly what Wayfindit became for me.
Once I started using it, the workflow changed immediately. Instead of forcing a general design tool to do something it wasn’t built for, I had a platform specifically designed for signage planning. Tasks that once felt repetitive and time-consuming became quick and intuitive.
Placing multiple signs along a corridor, adjusting their orientation or scale, and updating text across sign types could all be done in just a few clicks. Changes that previously required manual updates across an entire plan were now handled automatically. What used to take significant time and effort became seamless.
The Right Tool Changes Everything
With the right tool in place, this part of the process stopped feeling like a struggle and became just another natural step in the workflow.
It reinforced a simple idea: just because something can work doesn’t mean it’s the right approach. You might be able to hammer a nail with a screwdriver, but the time, energy, and frustration involved make it far from ideal.
Wayfindit Didn’t Replace My Role, It Elevated It
Wayfindit didn’t do my job for me, and that’s not the point. What it did was give me the ability to focus on what actually matters, creating clear, effective signage plans, rather than getting stuck in repetitive, manual tasks.
The knowledge and experience were already there. What was missing was the right tool to support them. Now, instead of spending time trying to invent workarounds, I can invest that time into improving the overall quality of my work.
Paying It Forward
Today, Wayfindit is a regular part of my workflow, and I’m always looking for ways to refine how I use it. I also make a point of helping others understand how to get the most out of it, because I know firsthand the difference it can make.
It didn’t just save me time; it genuinely improved how I work.
And yes, my sanity is very grateful for that.