The LED digital sign industry is growing at an exponential rate. Companies and organizations are starting to realize the enormous ROI potential a well-designed LED digital sign can bring. That’s why Digital Signage Design tips are imperative for any business using LED signs.

Digital signs can do many different things that traditional signage or billboards can’t. User connectivity, life-like displays, and the IoT can combine to create a visually stunning user experience that exponentially increases engagement.

The downside to digital signs is that you can easily mess up both the design and execution by not adhering to traditional Digital Signage Design principles.

Here are seven pitfalls that you should try to avoid while working on the design of a digital sign:

Digital Signage Design – Typography

One of the biggest design mistakes made is using the wrong font size. Keep in mind the desired viewing distance when creating your design. How far away will the farthest person be when viewing your sign?

Here’s a chart to help you determine the font size and legible viewing distance:

Font Size Maximum Viewing Distance
20 pt. 7’
34 pt. 12’
50 pt. 18’
66 pt. 25’
100 pt. 36’
133 pt. 49’
200 pt. 74’
300 pt. 150’

Moving Video Rule

Digital signs have a unique design challenge – they can display moving text and video. If used correctly, it’s highly effective at attracting attention. If not, it creates for a poor user experience that will often wind up confusing people or turning them away.

When it comes to moving video, the general rule of thumb is that your Digital Signage Design should focus on one moving element at a time. If you have two videos or two moving elements right next to each other, the human eye won’t be able to discern either one.

The general rule of thumb is that you should only use one moving element at any given time.

Digital Signage Design – Call-to-Action (CTA)

A call-to-action can mean the difference between a compelling and persuasive digital sign design and one that falls flat. Bonus points if you can engage the viewer with a message that offers a QR code that can be scanned, or a simple Twitter URL that can easily be remembered.

Some LED signs offer interactivity, which will enable users to enter info on kiosks or other touchable screens. Whether you use a CTA or a form of interactivity, be sure to include a request for the viewer to act such as:

• “Visit our booth.”
• “Follow us @CompanyTwitter.”
• “Scan this QR Code for a 10% off Coupon!”
• “Download our App.”

Timing

The greatest thing about LED digital signs is that they can be programmed to change the display or message at different times of the day. This is especially helpful if you have the same message up day after day. Trying incorporating a few different Digital Signage Design that say the same message.

For example, if you run a restaurant, you can have the sign advertise lunch specials during the lunch rush hour, then around 5 pm switch over to the dinner menu. Having several different lunch and dinner designs will ensure that the sign doesn’t get boring and you lose user engagement.

Digital Signage Design – Placement

You should also take into consideration the installation of the sign. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is placing the sign too high. People come in all shapes, sizes, and heights – a 6-foot 5-inch tall person might be able to read your sign, but a 5-foot tall person will need to crane their neck upwards in an uncomfortable position.

Try tilting your signs downwards a bit if you have to hang them high. There are plenty of hanging hardware options that will enable you to effectively mount the LED sign at a height and angle that won’t have people heading off to their chiropractor after viewing them.

Color

When it comes to digital sign designs, color is one of the most critical design elements that needs to be carefully considered. The colors that you use in your sign will have a profound effect upon those who view them.

Color psychology is a real thing and can have a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of your sign. Read up on the various psychological elements that are associated with the colors you choose.

Be careful about going overboard with color. As with other Digital Signage Design elements, “less is more.” Try using a color wheel to avoid colors that clash and make good use of contrast between the color of your text and the background upon which it sits.

A/B Test

One of the greatest features about LED digital signs is the ability to literally wipe the slate clean and start all over again. If you can run a/b tests, you should be doing so on a regular basis.

Try out changing up the design, message, color scheme, and CTA over the course of a few weeks or months and see which design works best. This is one of many areas that digital signs have a distinct advantage over traditional signage.

Digital Signage Design Experts

If you would like to learn more about how to design the perfect LED sign for your organization, business, or event, give us a call at (888) 215-7446. At Mega Signs, Inc. we specialize in creating visually stunning LED digital signs that will capture attention and are built to last.