Elements of an Effective Sign Design

When you are ready to purchase signage for your business, you need a clear, readable, and aesthetically-pleasing design. To ensure the successful promotion of your company and make the most out of your advertising dollars, keep these tips in mind for effective sign design:

Keep it simple.

Effective sign design quickly and clearly displays a message using as few words as possible. Why? Because of the amount of time viewers have to decipher messages. Motorists, for instance, have only seconds to decipher a sign, making three to five word messages ideal. Point of sale signage, on the other hand, can tolerate slightly more informative content. Spend some time determining the message you want to convey and keep environment in mind when creating your signage.

Leave plenty of white space.

Along the lines of the keep it simple mantra, leave plenty of “white space” – that blank area around text and images. Thirty to forty percent white space is best. An overabundance of text and graphics overwhelms viewers. If you want to get wordy, save it for a press release. TMI is a known killer of effective sign design.

Choose clearly readable typefaces.

Fancy typefaces don’t make for better sign design. Unreadable typefaces are completely useless. Even if you own a lingerie store, script and other novelty typefaces are probably not your best bet. Neither is the use of multiple typefaces nor all caps – the human eye much more easily deciphers block letters and proper capitalization. Opt for clear, straight typefaces that are easily readable, using bold letters or slightly larger text for emphasis.

Make color work for you.

White text is very difficult to read. Extensive research shows black, dark blue, or red text on a background of yellow or white is the most readable combination. Added bonus? White and yellow contrast beautifully with many outdoor elements, such as the blue of the sky and green grass, helping your signage stand out. Using multiple signs in close proximity? Keep colors and design consistent to avoid a scattered, busy atmosphere.

Use images carefully.

Quizno’s disfigured rodent “sponge monkeys” didn’t have much to do with tasty sandwiches. Along those lines, make sure images and icons you choose are not only large enough to be easily discerned, but that they have a clear, immediate connection to your type of business, such as a logo.

Unsure? Let a seasoned design team help you discover your best option.

An experienced graphic design and marketing team can help you create the most effective sign design for optimum results. If you’re not sure what will work or look good – just ask. Designers are happy to explain how and why effective design works. Graphic artists love looking at a piece and knowing it encompasses great design – not just because their name is on it, but because they know it will work for you.

Thinking about design for your trade show booth? Check out our post on trade show booth graphics from last week!