Designing Effective Commercial Signage: Tips and Best Practices

Well designed and eye-catching Commercial signage can attract potential customers and boost your business’s image.

It’s not just about lettering or graphics; striking the right balance between aesthetics, readability, and messaging is crucial to make your commercial signage truly effective. After all, when your customers can easily spot and read your sign, you’ll benefit from increased brand recognition.

But there’s more to designing and implementing an effective commercial signage than meets the eye. To help you create the perfect sign for your business, we’ve put together a guide on designing a commercial sign that stands out.

 

What Is Commercial Signage?

Commercial signage offer consumers a visual way to find and identify businesses. They come in many forms, including:

• Storefront signs: These full-color signage pieces are often the first thing people notice about your business.
• Banners: Brightly colored banners can draw attention to sales, services, or products. Think of them as a “billboard” for your business.
• Window signs: Vinyl or adhesive decals let you share information about sales and promotions in your store window display.
• Vehicle wraps: From logos to contact information, car wraps are an easy way to get your brand noticed while on the go.
• Monument signs: Monument signs help give your business a permanent presence in the community. These can range from simple to elaborate designs, depending on your budget.
• Yard signs: These are smaller versions of monument or storefront signs, but they can still be an effective way to advertise your business.
• Wall graphics: Wall graphics are a great way to turn plain walls into eye-catching displays about your brand and services.
• A-frames: A-frames are perfect for use on sidewalks or other areas with high foot traffic.

 

Choosing which commercial signage is right for your business depends on the goals and objectives you want to achieve. By properly leveraging these signs, you can create a positive impression of your business and increase visibility in the local community.

 

Key Elements of Successful Commercial Signage Design

Let’s chat about the brain. (Strange for a blog about signs, but you’ll soon see why it matters!)

The human brain is an incredibly powerful organ, capable of processing vast amounts of visual information in mere moments. According to the Visual Teaching Alliance, our brains can register graphical images lasting only 13 milliseconds, or 1/10 of a second.

This means we can take in an entire scene with just one glance!

This means that choosing the right commercial signage and the best design style could make all the difference in increased visibility, brand awareness, and customer loyalty.

So what makes a sign successful?

Here are three key elements of successful commercial sign design that you should keep in mind:

 

1. Consider Your Visual Aesthetics

Creating a visual impact is vital when it comes to designing a successful commercial sign. This is where branding and color come into play. You should choose colors that match your brand and have sufficient contrast so the sign is legible from a distance.

Consider using a font that is easy to read from the street. The size of the letters can also make a difference in how well your sign stands out.

 

2. Create an Inviting and Clear Message

Your commercial signage should have a clear message encouraging people to act. Be sure to include information such as your business name, services or products offered, and contact details. Keep the language simple and inviting to ensure your message is understood.

 

3. Choose Appropriate Material

When creating a commercial signage, you need to select the right material so that your sign is durable.

The most common materials for outdoor signs include aluminum, acrylic, or PVC. Each type of material will have its own benefits and drawbacks, so do your research and choose the one best suited for your needs.

 

Utilizing Color, Font, and Messaging in Commercial Signage

Let’s dive a bit deeper into the design concepts you’ll want to keep in mind when creating your commercial sign.

 

Research has shown that when given written or spoken information, people typically only remember 10-20 percent of it three days after they first heard it.

 

However, when presented with visual information, such as graphs, images, and videos, people are able to retain a much larger amount – up to 65 percent. This demonstrates the effectiveness of using visual content – and even more so when it comes to selling!

Color: Selecting the right color scheme is crucial in creating an attractive sign. Use contrasting colors to maximize your sign’s visibility, such as dark text on a light background or vice versa. Corporate colors can help boost brand recognition but don’t be afraid to deviate slightly to create a visual pop.

Font: Selecting the right font ensures your commercial sign is easily read. Stick to simple and minimalist fonts; avoid overly decorative fonts likely to compromise readability. Also, give careful thought to font size and spacing, as this can directly impact the readability of your sign.

Messaging: Keep your messaging clear and concise. Your target audience should understand what your business is offering within seconds. A good practice is to create a captivating tagline for your commercial sign that sums up your business and draws potential customers in.

 

Case Studies of Effective Commercial Signage Designs

 

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola’s iconic sign, which has been around since the late 1800s, has evolved over time while maintaining its simple and effective design.

The cursive white lettering on a red background immediately grabs attention, and the color contrast ensures high visibility from a distance. These two simple elements are the foundation of Coca-Cola’s successful sign design.

 

McDonald’s

McDonald’s golden arches are likely one of the most recognized commercial signs globally. It is a simple yet powerful design that uses color contrast and large lettering to create an easily recognizable and memorable image.

The McDonald’s commercial signage doesn’t just notify you that there’s a restaurant nearby – it has the power to evoke a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia – as well as a sudden need to eat!

The colors red and yellow also have a psychological affect that has been shown to initiate a craving for food.

 

Starbucks

The Starbucks logo features white and green colors and a minimalist font that enhances readability. The clean and symmetrical design incorporates a classic mermaid symbol to attract attention while remaining elegant.

When you see the Starbucks logo, you immediately know it’s them. All of these elements come together to create an iconic and instantly recognizable sign that has become a staple in most towns and cities worldwide.

 

Apple

Apple’s signage is simple yet effective. The logo features clean lines, vibrant colors, and bold fonts, which all come together to create a contemporary look.

The iconic ‘apple’ design perfectly demonstrates how to create a compelling logo that communicates the company’s message without being too flashy or overwhelming. Apple’s logo has become one of the most iconic symbols in modern society and for good reason.

 

Invest In Quality Design & Construction For Your Commercial Signage

Designing effective commercial signs involves striking a balance between visual aesthetics, ease of readability, and a clear message.

Keep in mind these essential components and adopt some of the best practices mentioned above for creating an impactful sign that drives sales and improves your brand’s presence in the market. Experiment with colors, fonts, and messaging to create a unique and enticing commercial sign that stands out.

When you’re ready to display your business’s brand, invest in quality materials and construction that will make it last.

At MEGA LED Technology, we’ve been a leader in commercial signage for years – helping companies turn their brand into a powerful statement that reaches consumers and establishes their presence in the market Visit us online today to learn more about how we can help bring your logo, message, and brand to life!