A great sign can help a business immediately stand out from the crowd. Match that with a clearly defined brand and you should attract plenty of customers. Read on for tips for designers when designing for signage.
Take the MacDonald’s sign, for example. It’s bold and maybe slightly brash but it’s easily recognised and perfectly positioned. When designing signage there are several issues apart from the branding that designers need to take into account.
Technical Signs have worked with designers for brands big and small and can manufacture anything you can dream up, so here are a few things to think about if you need to design signage;
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Scale vs Size
One thing that some designers don’t quite understand when it comes to signage is the difference between scale and size.
- Size is the actual size of something.
- Scale is the size in relation to surrounding objects
This is an important distinction when you are trying to create a piece of signage that stands out. The key is that signs need to be easy to read from a distance. Particularly outside, that not only keeping the message simple but adhering to the 10 to 100 rule. This essentially means your lettering should be at least 10 inches in height for every 100 feet where it is visible.
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Location is Vital
Another factor to consider even before the design process begins is where the sign is going to be located. Not only will this define the limits of size and scale, but it will also put some constraint on the colours and font design that you use.
For example:
- If your sign is appearing near a feature of architectural significance, does it need to be backlit?
- Or if there are certain colours on the building, how does this impact on the colours you employ to make things stand out?
- If there are features in the way further from the sign, such as a tree, how do you ensure maximum visibility for passing trade?
Location is just as important for internal signage and can have all sorts of influence on size, colour and design choice.
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The Bolder and Brighter the Better?
Any signage aims to help you stand out from your neighbours and tell people what’s there.
There may already be a brand design available which makes things easier but for many businesses on the high street, there is no clearly defined way forward.
Standing out usually means being bolder and brighter than the rest, especially choosing colours that contrast against each other rather than those which blend, for example, red and blue rather than red and orange.
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The Signage Materials
The other factor to pay special attention to is the material that you are using to create the sign.
Different surfaces respond in different ways and there are plenty of different options to choose from including metal and plastic as well as wood and composite materials. Neither are you restricted to a simple one-dimensional sign. With options such as lightboxes and sculptural signage style, there is certainly a lot to consider.
Understanding these basic factors should help you make more informed decisions and with expert sign manufacturers Technical Signs to help and give advice and inspiration your signage will be spectacular.
If you liked this post, why not try another? Take a look at our latest blog post; ‘How Signage Can Help A Commercial Interior Designer’…
