Designing eye-catching signs is somewhere between science and art: You want something that reflects your business or organization that is visually pleasing, but not so bland that people walk right by without noticing. Whether it’s a banner, custom backdrop or more detailed signage, here are a few key guidelines to ensure your signs draw the eye:
Take Inspiration From Your Business
Design should begin with identifying which features are central to your organization or enterprise. If you’re selling ice cream, images of ice cream cones on your sign are a great way to give people a taste of what they might expect out of your business. Similarly, a dentist might have a cartoon illustration of a tooth or a toothbrush.
“The simpler and more striking you can make a sign, the better.”
Go for Simple and Clean, Limiting Detail
While it may be tempting to insert a photo-realistic image on your sign, the simpler you can make featured images, the better. Signs are meant to grab attention quickly and raise interest from those who may be just passing by.
The human brain is only able to take in a certain amount of detail in one glance, so the simpler and more striking you can make a sign, the more likely it will quickly make the impression you intend. This is why so many signs use stylized icons or cartoon representations rather than photos.
Use Only One or Two Fonts – and Keep Text to a Minimum
The way you use fonts for lettering is key. Too many different fonts – both shapes and sizes – on a single sign and your custom banner may look chaotic or incoherent. Use the same font for large blocks of text, and your sign can seem boring or, worse, unreadable.
A solid best practice is to limit yourself to one or two fonts on your sign: One style for your logo, event or business name, another for smaller explanatory text. The second font can be used to create a contrast from the main font. Even so, it may be beneficial to stick to the same font family – serif or sans serif – on a single sign to help create a sense of harmony and flow.
The most effective signs combine readable text with simple icons.Don’t overwhelm your signs with text. Most people will spend less than a minute looking at your sign, meaning that if it’s bogged down with lots of text, chances are they won’t read it all anyway. Boil what you have to say down to a single sentence, with a 10-word maximum. Ideally, a sign should include a name and something similar to a slogan.
“Rounded shapes evoke a sense of calm and control.”
Use Bright, Warm Colors and Simple Shapes
You want your sign to draw the eye, and there’s no better way to do this than warm, bright colors. Identify the overall feeling you want to exude from your organization: Inviting? Leisurely? Serious? Knowledgeable? From there, choose bold, bright colors that project this feeling. Be careful though. In general, it is best to avoid harsh, aggressive colors like shades of neon since these may actually be difficult to look at.
Apply the same logic to the shapes you use, both as icons on the sign or in the shape of the banner itself. Even if you go with a standard rectangular shape for your sign, you can make it more dynamic by framing the text and logo with a contrasting shape. Rounded shapes evoke a sense of calm and control, while shapes with pointed angles are dynamic.
Don’t Forget a Call to Action
One of the most important elements of a sign is a call to action, or CTA. These simple turns of phrase are what inspire your viewers to do something and are what separate signage from art. Typically, these take on the form of a few words like “Call today for more details!” or “Visit our website to learn more!” But they can also be even more subtle. Just including a website, Twitter handle or a brand-approved hashtag can act as an effective CTA without being overly promotional.
Once your signs are designed, getting them printed on high-quality materials is the easy part. Get in touch with Sign Art Etc. to meet all your sign needs!
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