Putting up a sign for everyone to see, especially in a high traffic area is a fantastic opportunity most business owners recognize and want to take full advantage of. But what will that sign look like? It starts off pretty simple, with a name or logo and oh, how about a tagline? A few bullet points with products is a good idea. Wait, we really need to have our website on there and maybe the phone number. Product logos are important too since they are highly recognizable. Before you know it, your content looks like a copy of the Constitution and you cannot read any of it from more than 5 feet away.
When I see a sign that is overcrowded and difficult to read I assume the intent was to get as much on there as possible for everyone to see. Getting the most bang for your buck, however, requires some careful design. I have talked about effective sign design and this is exactly what I mean, a sign that actually does the job you intended for it. While it may seem counter-intuitive to leave some things off your sign, it will, in the end, make it more effective.
Keep in mind that the average time your sign is viewed by drivers passing by is about 5 seconds and then take into account the need for negative space – that blank area around your content which should be at least 60% for maximum readability. This leaves you with 40% of your sign for your content. What you place in that area is really important so let’s break down some rules to help you decide what gets cut and what stays.