Before investing your marketing dollars on the production of a sign, you must make sure that certain factors of design have been take into consideration. You can't assume that because your design looks gorgeous on the drawing board, or even as a life-sized prototype sitting in your office, that it will look as good or even accomplish its purpose out in the field. To make sure your sign will get the job done, here are four important things to think about:
1. Letter height. There's a difference between the distance at which your design will make its maximum dramatic impact and the distance from which it can be read. You have to weigh readability against sheer impact when choosing how tall/wide the letters in your design should be.
2. Location, location, location. If you're posting a sign facing the street, which way is the traffic flowing in relation to your sign -- parallel or perpendicular? You need to make sure that sign is facing the drivers who are actually in a position to see it. You'd better know the local sign ordinance, too, and consider whether this sign will be permanent or temporary.
3. Color combinations. Some colors naturally evoke certain emotions or messages -- for instance, we're used to reading black and yellow as "CAUTION." This color combination might be great for a safety sign or a temporary sign screaming about a huge sale. If you're looking at a long-term investment, however, you'll want to choose color combinations that resonate with your target audience's tastes and your company's branding message.
4. Lettering style. San-serif fonts read more clearly at long distances than serif fonts. If you're communicating several different messages, use different font styles and letter sizes to separate those statements.
And don't forget-- we're always happy to help!