7 Tips for Creating Compelling Corporate Signage
Your business is relocating and needs to design a new storefront sign—and you’ve been put in charge of the project!
However, with seemingly infinite options for signs, how can you decide which option will look amazing and benefit the business? It’s not always easy, but it helps if you understand a few sign design principles.
The right sign can increase profits, build brand awareness, and generate new leads, so it’s worth taking the time to get it right.
To learn more, keep reading to find seven top tips for creating corporate signage that you—and your customers—will love!
1. Decide on Your Sign’s Location First
If you’re new to corporate outdoor signage, your first step is to decide where you’ll place your sign. This is because size matters when reading a sign outdoors, especially if it’s far away.
For example, a sign placed on top of a large building is going to need to be much bigger than you might think. Otherwise, people down below on the ground won’t be able to read it.
Once you’ve worked out your exact sign placement, you can start thinking about shape, color, fonts, and specifications.
If your sign will be internal, be sure you pick a location where it’s easy to read without blocking any windows or doorways.
2. Consider Your Target Demographic
Next, think about who will be reading your sign. If you’re organizing a conference and thinking about corporate event signage, for example, who will be attending the event?
If it’s a young, hip tech conference, you can get a bit more creative with your signage. However, for an older, more conservative crowd, you’ll do better with a more traditional, muted sign.
Also, consider visibility—if you’re making a sign for an older audience, some attendees might have visual impairments. This means you want a sign with large, simple fonts, so everyone can easily read it.
3. Choose Fonts Carefully
Another big decision is regarding fonts. Font choice can really make or break a sign, so choose carefully!
There’s nothing worse than seeing a beautifully presented sign, but struggling to read what it says. When this happens, you’ll quickly lose customers, so don’t take the risk.
Instead, use a clear, simple font that will be easy to read. These fonts will stand out so that similar numbers and letters, like 1 and L, look different from one another.
Otherwise, readers may get confused. Some of the easiest fonts to read include:
- Arial
- Helvetica
- Calibri
- Times New Roman
These are some of the best corporate digital signage fonts, but they also work well for print. Sure, a creative and artistic font can work well for some businesses, but just be extra careful to check that it’s easy to read.
Cursive usually isn’t a good idea, since it can be hard for some people to read.
4. Think About Contrast
When making signs, always pay close attention to contrast. Contrast refers to the colors on your sign—specifically, the color of the text and how it contrasts with your background.
There’s a reason why you often see signs with black text on a white background—it’s extremely easy for anyone to read! Never pick a text color that’s similar to your sign’s background color, as it’ll be challenging for people to read, especially those with color blindness.
If you’re going to use color, make sure you pick opposites, like yellow and blue or red and white.
5. Keep Things Simple
The best signs are usually the simplest. You really only have a second or two to capture someone’s attention as they walk by, so you need to get to the point—quickly!
This means your sign should be as minimal as possible. Even just your business name and maybe phone number is enough as otherwise, your sign might look cluttered.
Start by thinking about what you want to accomplish by making this sign and don’t overdo it.
6. Get a Second Opinion
A sign is a big investment for your business, so we recommend getting a second (or third) opinion before having it made. Ask a few colleagues or even customers what they think of your design.
You’d be surprised at how easy it is to miss a glaring mistake, like a typo, so a second set of eyes can prevent costly errors.
7. Work With a Professional
Generally, traditional or digital signage for offices isn’t something you want to DIY. Even if you’re technically-minded, it’s harder than you think to design and create a professional sign.
Look for a respected sign company to help you with the project instead. You’ll get better results with the help of an expert.
You’ll find plenty of great companies on Google, but also think about asking neighboring businesses for their recommendations.
Design the Best Corporate Signage for Your Business With These Tips
If you’ve been put in charge of developing new corporate signage, use these tips to get started. Remember that, ultimately, a sign is a marketing tool, so approach it from an advertising and marketing perspective.
Take your time, carefully consider your options, and research other companies’ signs—what have they done for their signs that work really well?
Hard work pays off, as you’ll be left with a beautiful sign that your customers will love—which is great for business!
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