Elements of Excellent Sign Design

You don’t want your customers to pass by your signage and not really notice anything. Signage needs to present your message in a (relatively) small area. The effectiveness of a clear message cannot be underestimated.

The words of the message are not the only place to focus when clearing up your business message. Strong focus needs to also fall on the typeset and the graphic elements of the sign. There are fonts that are easy for the eye to read, even at a distance, and there are fonts that look like a foreign language, even up close. Your signage needs to be created with a typeset or font that is clear at any range and communicates your values.

When the sign does not have the right colours, it may become ineffective and lack the power to attract the right audiences.

There are certain colours that evoke a mental response and businesses are using these colours to their advantage even if the consumer does not see the methodology. In restaurants, for instance, the majority of the colour schemes used will include a variety of deep red shades. Red is supposed to evoke a feeling of hunger when viewed. The knowledge of colours and their effect on the viewer will help gear your signage toward the right viewer.

Colour schemes include reds for hunger, blues and greens for stability, softer pinks and yellows for the female, and brighter neon colours for the younger audience.

Bear in mind though that too much colour can also be a bad idea, as it will look too loud and overpowering for audiences; hence, a sign should have the right balance of all the right elements to get the right kind of people and also create the right kind of impact.

A captivating design, well-planned out elements, structure, size, and background are all important to making a sign effective and well planned.

Depending on your need, what you wish to use it for, and where you wish to place it are all important in order to decide what works best.

Remember, when it comes to getting your message across in signage, LESS IS MORE!

Create Maximum Impact

• Try adding a border to focus attention on your sign. This helps viewers read it 26% faster.
• Presenting special information in a second colour increases memorability by 78%. You can make the most important part of your sign “jump” out by adding an accent colour.
• If your business name does not say what you do, consider including a one-line summary of what your business does or a slogan that describes what sets you apart from your competition.
• Use light colour on dark – and dark colour on light.
• When in doubt – leave it out!

Do I need Council Approval?

This depends on nature of signage and your local council. Some councils allow existing signage to be replaced with new graphics without approval, whilst others will insist that design approval be sought for any change. Different councils have different rules; some will require approval for external signage only, and anything behind windows is usually exempt. The best advice is to check with your local council before authorising signage work to commence. SIGNARAMA can help you with the necessary plans and images required for your application (fee applies).