Potential customers drive past your community each day, coming and going in less than three seconds. What impression do they form of your neighborhood? Your sign may be the only part of your community that new residents see from the street. Make sure to put your best foot forward with high-quality signage.
Think of your neighborhood sign as a marketing employee that’s always on the job. Your sign should be noticeable, memorable, and welcoming. New customers should see it and want to come inside! Since your sign needs to perform so many tasks, you should design it with a plan.
People don’t read signs in the same way they read a newspaper or a magazine. Instead, they interpret the design elements that make up your sign. Consider these elements separately before combining them. Learn how the logo, fonts, color, shape, and size of your sign all work together to make an impression on potential customers.
Your Neighborhood Logo
Take a look at your community’s logo, especially if it’s been in use for several decades. Is your logo still in style, or does it feel dated? Does it represent your community’s values? Is it professional, projecting a sense of confidence?
Remember that your customers only spend a brief amount of time driving by your sign. You want your brand identity to be clear from the first impression. Your logo should convey what you want people to know about your community.
A good logo is simple, clean, and easy to recognize. This is especially true when using it on an outdoor sign. A neighborhood logo should draw attention as a person drives past your sign. It should also stand out against other nearby signs.
Choosing Fonts for Signs
Consider what the font, or writing style, of your sign portrays. Street-side signs should be bold and uncluttered so that people can read your message. Choose a simple, strong font that is easy to read in just one look.
Just like logos, fonts can feel dated or old-fashioned. Some common font mistakes include:
Script or cursive-style fonts. These beautiful looping fonts make for beautiful wedding invitations but are usually unreadable from a car.
Thin lettering. Studies have shown that this makes it harder to read, especially at long distances. People read title case fonts easier, which includes both capitalized and lowercase letters. Think of a newspaper headline. People skim headlines to decide what they want to read in more detail. Those headlines have simple, easy-to-read words; and your sign should be similar.
Text in hard-to-read shapes. The words on your sign don’t need to be in the shape of a circle, starfish, or anything else, even if your neighborhood is right on the beach. Use graphic shape elements in the design of your sign, but keep your text easy to read.
Use High Contrast Colors
Your sign can “pop” when you use the right colors. It’s easy to read something from a distance when your design elements stand out from each other. Choose colors that are high contrast, with a noticeable difference between shades.
Black and white offer the biggest contrast when used together. This is the easiest color combination to read from a distance. You can also combine white with other dark colors to maintain high contrast. Navy blues, rich reds, and deep greens offer high contrast when paired with white. Pale colors, such as yellow or light blue, usually provide low contrast and are hard to read from a car.
Consider the Sign Shape and Size
Is a square the best shape for your sign, or would a rectangle be better? Don’t focus on this decision too early in a design project. Once you’ve chosen the other elements to include in a design, the size and shape will easily fall into place.
Taller signs are easier to see from a car, but shouldn't block the view if placed at a driveway entrance. If you plan to hang your sign off the side of a building, you may want to go with a smaller height.
Hire an Expert Sign Designer
For the best visual impact, consider hiring a professional designer for a great new neighborhood sign. Someone who specializes in outdoor signage will know the right materials needed to make the sign last, based on local weather conditions.
Sign Works has created many custom signs in the Pensacola area for neighborhoods, gated communities, retirement areas, and more. When you want your neighborhood sign to stand out, give us a call.
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