Your signs tells a lot about your business. Therefore, it is important that the signs reflect what the company stands for. In other words: The signs must send the correct message.
Before you choose your solution, make sure you know what you want to tell the customers.
If the company is trend-setting, a modern glass sign may be the right solution.
High quality polished finishes tell you that your company delivers high quality products or services.
Old gold letters or badges tell the recipient that it is a company with traditions and history.
A defective or bad sign makes your guests feel unwelcome and insecure.
Signs must take into account the recipient.
Do you have foreign guests, you should take this into account.
Another example is a sign of an ophthalmologist; It must take into account weak-sighted patients.
Also think about your readers
- children
- young
- adults
- foreigners
- word blind
- visually impaired
Avoid uncommon abbreviations and words that readers do not understand.
For example, local authorities and other public authorities may tend to use an internal language. On one hand, not everyone knows what the PPA stands for.
On the other hand, a text like "Personal Psychological Advice" is often too long for a sign.
Therefore, good signage requires careful consideration.
Make your sign simple
Proverbs like: "KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid", "Boring is beautiful" and "Cut the Crap and Make it Simple" may seem provocative.
But they say it all very well and clearly. Signs with simple messages make it easier for the customer. It will make it easier for them to respond to the sign.
If the sign has no clear messages, your guest will get confused and you will not get what you want with the sign.
For example, if you are signing in an office building, it is important to avoid "logo flicker." It occurs by using individual signage.
Instead, you should develop a common sign with a simple and understandable text.
If there are company logo on the signs, let the logo be a secondary thing - the signs should first and foremost show your guests the way and give them information.
You must also ensure that there is a correlation between the signs. Different fonts and colors confuse more than they benefit.
Typography and readability of signs
If the signs are hard to read, the users lose interest - especially if there is a lot of text at the same time. Here are a few good tips:
- Always select a typeface (font type) that is large enough and readable.
- Do not use capital letters. Since the letters are all the same height, the words will appear as "boxes", making it harder to read.
- But do use a capital letter as the initial letter.
Pictograms or drawings on signs
Everybody knows the sentence: "A picture say more than a thousand words."
On signs, the same can often be said for pictograms and simple drawings. Therefore, it may be a good idea to consider using pictograms or drawings.
It helps your visitor to understand the sign - regardless of language and age. But remember: the drawings and pictograms must be obvious and should be understood at a single glance.
The colors and proportions of the signs
Should the signs match something?
Should your sign form a contrast to something?
How is the architecture, the interior, the room, the colors and the proportions?
It is important that your signs fit into the environment. Therefore, it is a good idea to look at your surroundings before choosing the signage system.
It is a huge project to put up sign in a larger building, such as a hospital or a town hall.
It is especially necessary to know the reading distance and the natural way of moving around the building or the area.
It may be a good idea to try out the theory in practice before a larger project is started. This can be done by producing some print in 1:1.
Better yet, it's making proofs of colors and writing heights. Then you can evaluate the tests in the correct context before you finally decide which signs you want.
Signboards and overview boards
Overview boards may be required. Here too, it is important to make it easy to read.
Avoid texts in endless lanes, but divide clearly and post "breaks" on the signs. Floor separations are marked with another color tone, for example.
Empty fields can be inserted to create the breaks.
The most important things can be emphasized by emphasizing the text, making it larger, underlined or different in color.
Update and supplement of signs
Regular maintenance often causes problems this you can avoid by appointing a sign responsible - that is, one person who updates existing and orders additional signs.
This reduces the risk of errors. If you need to change the signs often, choose a system where it's easy and at no cost.
In times of mergers, acquisitions, logo and name changes, it's nice with a flexible signage. An inflexible system can be a cheaper investment, but in turn an expensive acquaintance in the long run.
And what about future supplements? Make sure that the supplier has a supplementary warranty on the product and that additions can be made without long delivery times.
If you choose a custom color, such as a company color, it's a good idea to order some extra signs just to make updates fast and at low cost.
Which signs are allowed and which are not?
If it is to be separated outdoors, it is important that you comply with local plans for the area and, if necessary, seek permission for your sign.
Perhaps there is also a design manual that you must adhere to. In addition to the manual, there are other rules that you must adhere to?
Should landlords or neighbors be asked? If you do not want to make any approvals yourself, ask if it is a service your sign supplier can offer.
Shelf life, maintenance and cleaning
Signs must be maintained and cleaned. A dingy or scratched surface sends some bad signals.
When choosing materials for your signs, it is important to look at the elements the signs will be exposed to and what maintenance they require.
It can be factors like wind and weather, but also vandalism and children. You can not completely cope with vandalism, but you must keep it in mind.
That way, you can choose the right products for the right solutions.
Ask your supplier for advice if in doubt. Sign a contract for maintenance and cleaning of your signage or place the responsibility internally within the company.
Signs are an investment
Look at signs as an investment. Often, signs can be a big expensive. If you need frequent updates, it is possible that the optimal solution is an electronic sign that are constantly updated without the use of resources. Since investment must last for many years, it is important to look forward. And keep in mind that: "The joy of the low price is shorter than the annoyance of the poor product."
Cooperation with the supplier of signs
A sign is an investment that should likely last for many years. Therefore, it is usually a long-term cooperation you initiate with your supplier.
So be careful when choosing a supplier - and remember to ask questions.
Look at the supplier with critical eyes. Look at the supplier's references, even if it does not guarantee quality. Choose a supplier you trust.
