Indoor signs
The Dos and Don'ts of Event Signs
5/6/2019
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Many business owners think of event signage as a no-brainer. But, there’s a lot more to making effective special event signs than just using a logo and company colors. Here are some of the dos and don’ts our signage team has put together to help you create unique event signs that meet all your business needs.
What To Do
To start things off on a positive note, we will begin by providing some tips on how to create effective signs. Readability is the main thing to keep in mind, so many of our tips will center around this goal.
Add Contrast
One of the main aspects affecting readability is contrast. When creating your sign, you should always choose the right background to make the graphics and lettering stand out. Otherwise, potential customers may not be able to recognize your brand, and might not be able to read the information on your sign either. A curious few might move closer to see what it says, but others may simply move on to the competitors.
Add Color
When it comes to adding contrast, black and white are your best bet. However, when it comes to creating memorable graphics that grab people’s attention, it’s better to add color. Even if the color only comes from the brand’s logo or borders on the sign, some color is better than none at all. People are far more likely to be attracted to a color sign than one that appears only in black and white.
Choose Elements From Your Brand
Is there a certain color, slogan or visual image that people associate with your brand? If so, be sure to incorporate that into your sign. This helps customers easily recognize you wherever you go. If you have not yet built up a strong customer base, or you are on unfamiliar grounds, it’s a good idea to use elements that may attract your target market. For example, if your target audience is millennials, something contemporary and techie is more likely to grab their interest.
Remember the Purpose of the Sign
It’s easy to get carried away when creating unique event signage. You may have a lot of ideas you want to try out, or you may want to push your brand as heavily as possible. However, always keep the purpose in mind. For instance, an event entrance sign should be more about the event or welcoming attendees than the company behind it. At most events, there’s usually plenty of room for creating banners and other promotional materials that will highlight your company and what it does.
What Not To Do
Now that you have a better understanding of what makes special event signs effective, we can move on to some of the mistakes you should avoid. Naturally, one of the best ways to sidestep the mistakes detailed below is by working with professionals.
Don’t Jumble Words Together
Sometimes font sizes and the space available on the material you choose don’t work together. Some people may account for this by reducing letter spacing on those last few letters. Unless you have a way to do this that is seamless and looks like a deliberate design, it won’t look good. For this reason, it’s always important to take measurements of available space for lettering before you print.
Don’t Choose Complex Fonts
o ensure unique event signage, many business owners turn to script fonts and other complex types that look great. This is a bad idea since most script fonts are hard to read at a distance. Even if script fonts make up a part of the logo, it's better to use regular fonts for the rest of the sign. This way, customers and event attendees can easily see what your business is about or what action they should take.
Don’t Compromise on the Material
To reduce expenses some event marketers elect to go with the most economical signage materials. While not always a bad strategy, especially if your event signs are for single use, be aware that durability can suffer even for temporary uses. A poor-quality sign that shows obvious wear during your event reflects badly on the company or organization that displays it.
Don’t Block the Sign
It seems like such obvious advice, but you have probably seen a business or two before that failed to follow it. Sometimes, this is out of their control. For instance, you may choose to have a sign of a certain height without realizing that a hanging fixture at the event might block the top half of it. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, visit the site first and plan accordingly. If you can’t visit the site, speak to the organizer so you can have a clear idea of the kind of space you’ll be working with.
Contact Us
For more than three decades, Signs By Tomorrow Annapolis has created indoor and outdoor signs for various business purposes. From event parking yard signs to directional signs for events, we’ve done it all. Rely on us to create high-quality signage for your next event. Contact us; we look forward to hearing from you soon!
