Make sure to follow the steps here so you end up with signs that captivate and attract.
Our world has grown to embrace the power of digital signage, so much so that it’s become a ubiquitous sight everywhere you look. They no longer just exist in big urban areas as even small towns now feature a scrolling LED sign here and there, announcing anywhere from the latest store offerings to community events. The medium’s continuous expansion, however, means increased competition. Businesses, along with designers, need to work even harder to produce signages that capture the public’s attention.
Good thing you have this article right in front of you to guide you through the process. Whether you’re working on a digital LED sign campaign at the moment or if you’re looking for valuable design insights for signages in general, then sit back and relax as you will be learning a lot by the end of this piece.
1. Let contrast work for you.
The goal when you’re making signages is for your message to pop out. You can do that with a strong copy but when it comes to design elements, the way to go is to pick high-contrasting colors. This means layering a dark color on top of a light one or vice versa. This technique is definitely eye-catching as the colors together will make each other stand out without overpowering one another.
The same technique is applied in scrolling LED signs such as here in the 26mm RGY 1 Row Programmable Scrolling LED Sign. Vibrant colored pixels spell out your advertising copy against a black screen, ensuring your message is delivered loud and clear.
2. Less is more.
So we’ve established that the goal is to make your signage pop, right? Does this mean filling up your board with graphics in a never-ending array of colors? Absolutely not.
Another word to think of when designing signages aside from “pop” is “focused.” This means your signage must only contain elements whose only focus is to highlight your sign’s message.
It’s easy to assume that having more elements would mean that the sign would be more noticeable. Unfortunately, following this idea means it’s also easy to overwhelm viewers when there are too many graphical elements included. Always remember that popping out doesn’t mean foregoing taste when it comes to your approach with the text copy and images. It is always better to have balance when combining elements: too much is overpowering, while simplicity is better and will help your campaign go a long way.
A good measurement to follow is to leave 30%-40% of the sign’s surface to white space.
3. Use hierarchy and font size to highlight the most important parts.
Aside from contrast, another way to highlight your signage’s main idea is to use a hierarchical system where the text or section considered as the most important must be the biggest, with the less important details in smaller fonts. This technique shows viewers where to focus first.
This rule is illustrated in the photo showcased above where the word “MOTEL” is written the largest. It is also the part that is the most important when the sign is all lit up as travelers on the road looking for a place to rest would want to see that part first.
Now, this design rule applies to both digital and traditional signages, so remember to take this tip to heart.
4. Pick simple, non-decorative fonts.
A strong copy wouldn’t be as effective if it’s printed in a font that’s not easily readable. For a more impactful sign, choose serif or sans serif for your signage needs. (Read this to differentiate between the two).
While brushstroke or decorative typefaces may certainly look pretty, they are not the most ideal fonts to use especially in business signage. Because the goal is to deliver the message in the quickest way possible, signages such as outdoor LED signs, are written in fonts with a straightforward style.
Additionally, using too many font styles would also make your signage too busy and cluttered, so for best results use up to two different fonts only.
5. Avoid writing in ALL CAPS as much as possible.
You know how WRITING IN ALL CAPS MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU’RE SCREAMING? There’s a reason why writing in this manner is seen in bad form in online discourse: it looks like you’re starting a fight even if you don’t mean to. In the same manner, writing in all caps must be used sparingly, if at all, when making a sign.
Always remember that the goal when choosing fonts for signages is legibility. You need to make it easy for the viewers to read your copy, and the best choice is to write it is in Title Case, which is the case style where every word is capitalized except for articles and short prepositions (This is an Example of a Copy Written in Title Case Form). Visually, this form of writing is easier on the eyes making it more legible than the all-caps style.
However, writing in all caps does have a place in signage design, particularly in road and emergency signs where short instructions (GO, STOP, NO PARKING) are all the copy that’s needed.
Once you have these rules down pat, you’ll soon be on your way to making eye-catching signages that capture the attention of everyone in town!
Comments
Post a Comment