Introduction
While different companies have different signs to express their identity, one thing is the same: all signs need to be understandable to the people seeing them. One of the most important factors considered in designing a sign is the message that is conveyed to the audience.
One of the most effective ways to enhance the visibility of your business is to add attractive signage that complements your branding and is visible from a distance. But how do you judge what is effective? Whether it’s a billboard, a property and management sign, or even a political sign, there are a lot of factors that play into the effectiveness of any signage, including its visibility, and durability.
All businesses need good signage, especially those in the retail sector. However, not all signs are created equal. There are a variety of factors that can make a good sign.
Here are some of the most important factors to make a good sign:
It should fit the environment
Where will the sign be located? Directly next to the road? On a busy street where many pedestrians pass by? Where does it need to be visible from? All of these questions should be asked when designing an effective sign.
It should impress potential customers in a few seconds
Your signage has only 7 seconds to make an impression. A pedestrian or motorist passing by will notice you in that amount of time.
Your sign has to stand out, attract attention and give people an idea of what your business is all about. The first impression is the most important of all.
Choose the right color scheme
It is a good idea to use contrasting colors to emphasize areas of the message that may have greater importance. Your sign should have contrasting colors to those found in the environment in which it will be located. Choose colors that blend well with a wide variety of environments if your sign will be moved between numerous locations.
Simple is best
It is important that your sign catches the eye of individuals passing by quickly. If you try to keep your message as simple – and short – as possible, your sign will probably be a much more effective marketing tool. You don’t need to list everything on it, just keep it to the most important points. The sign should be eye-catching and creative, but certainly not long and opaque.
Typography makes a difference
You need to make sure your sign is legible. If no one can understand what you’re saying in a few seconds, no matter how good the message you’ve come up with is, or how well the colors you’ve chosen match the environment. You should take extra care in choosing your font face, font size, and your message location on your sign.
The power of white space
An area between design elements is called a white space. It also refers to a space within a design element, for example, the space between characters. The name white space doesn’t mean that it must be white. It can be any shade of color, any pattern, or even a background image.
Good use of white space can balance style elements and improve the content organization to improve visual communication. It is vital to have white space on a sign to make it readable.
Questions to ask before designing an outdoor sign
When it comes to signage design, there are a few key points to consider. Prior to getting started, here are some questions to think about.
What purpose does your sign serve?
Your signage should be designed according to the goals you expect to achieve. You could, for example, use the sign to promote, inform, warn, guide, or even all of these.
When it comes to signs, there are many categories you can fit, and the one you choose will shape your entire marketing strategy. Your business sign can be the first face your prospects interact with of your brand. In a way, a business sign is the first impression a potential customer forms of your company. And so, you need to make sure that your sign communicates the right message.
Who do you hope to reach with your message?
You may have heard the term “target audience” and not understand what it means. It’s a marketing term that refers to a group of people who are your target market — the people who are likely to buy your product. You need to design your sign based on who your target audience is.
But it’s not always that easy, especially if you have no marketing experience. We tell you a useful tip if you’re stuck in finding your target audience. You will often hear it said that the right target audience is the only one that will buy your product. But, is it true? Sometimes it will be, and other times it won’t. Instead of looking for the exact right audience, how about you take a look at who your potential customers are, and try to cater your product to who they are.
We know a lot now, let’s design
There is no question that a big sign will make you stand out or attract attention to your business. However, a business sign that is not designed properly can ruin your reputation and cause your business to fail from the beginning. There are many mistakes that a new business sign design can make that can cause your sign to have bad consequences.
Business signs are all the rage these days, and a beautifully printed sign can be the difference between success and failure. If you want to succeed in your chosen field, you need to have a clearly designed sign. Luckily, there are many ways to do this, from the traditional wood and vinyl sign to the digitally printed signs. Pay attention to these:
Make your sign stand out by creating a high color contrast
In the case of a logo with a light-colored background, it must be placed on a dark enough background to be seen. Considering the location of the sign will also help you evaluate contrast.
Create a simple message with a large enough font size
One of the most common mistakes a company makes is to focus on the design of the sign itself and not the message it’s communicating. Although the look of the sign is important, the message is what matters most.
The purpose of large signs is not to convey complex messages. Large font and clear messages will be easier to understand, whether people are in a car or on foot.
Make visually interesting design
Adding style to every element will enhance the visual appeal of your design. The goal is to create a design that is both balanced and cohesive by combining contrasting elements, such as sizes, fonts, colors, graphics, and borders.
A dynamic and attractive sign can be created by using contrast in each of these elements. It is true that every detail matters, but using variety will highlight the essential points and make your design stand out.
