What do you need to create a sign template out of a blank sheet of paper?

Before you even begin to draw, doodle or otherwise monkey with a new sign design you need to know what the purpose of the sign will be.

• Will it be used by associates to place products?
• Will it be an identifier?
• Will it be used to highlight items on sale?
• Will it be used to list associated items?
• Will it be used to show specifications?

Perhaps it will be used for some combination of the above…Whatever the answer to these questions, you must have a clear purpose in mind for the sign, which will dictate all other aspects of sign creation.

Now that the purpose of the sign is developed, what size and shape will the sign be? Some kinds of signs, for instance those with specifications, must be a minimum size to fulfill their purpose. Others, such as signs which will mainly serve as identifiers, have a maximum size, which is usually very small. Part of this process is determining the shape of the sign. Will it be long and thin? Square? Will it be an unusual shape like an octagon or an ellipse? Most signs will be some variation on the theme of rectangle. Keep in mind that a long thin sign is much harder to design than a rectangle with 2:3 proportions. There are some combinations of shape and size which are more appealing to the eye than others, and the purpose of the sign should be carefully considered when it comes to picking shape and size.

Next consider the items which must be present on the sign for it to perform its function. Almost all signs require some kind of identifier which says what the sign is about. This is usually a description for the customer, and an SKU and/or barcode for the associate. Most signs also have a price. What additional items need to be on the sign for it to fulfill its purpose? Make a list of all such items. Sometimes it can be easy to put too much on an existing sign. If you are starting with an existing sign that needs cleaning up, look at what its purpose is, then make a list of items that are on the sign. What can be removed? Delete the unneeded items and go from there. Now that you have made a list of items you need on the sign, it’s time to move to the next step.

What is the best way to arrange the items on a sign? The human eye tends to move in certain ways, following patterns both from training and from instinct. Large, bold items with bright or strongly contrasting colors tend to stand out, as do things which move. People used to European languages will naturally read printed items left to right, top to bottom. People who are accustomed to reading other languages will tend to read printed items in a different order, according to the language they are accustomed to.

 When you lay out the items on the sign, think about what is the most important item on the sign. This is often, but not always, related to its purpose. For most signs, price is the most important item, and is therefore the item which should have the largest and boldest print—usually a heavy black font. The description is usually the next most important feature, and the other features less so. Try and keep the two largest items on opposite corners from each other. This will balance the sign visually, and make it easier to read. Identifiers which are necessary but not important, such as a UPC code, are usually the smallest features of the sign. Such fine print items should be in the least obtrusive place possible. The most common locations are the lower left and lower right corners.

Another aspect of sign design is eliminating crowding.

• Does the sign you've just created have a cluttered appearance?
• Does it appear as if one thing is running into another?
• Is it difficult to distinguish what the purpose of each feature of the sign is?

If you answered yes to any of these, you may have a crowding issue. There are a few things which can be done when a sign is crowded. First, revisit the sign’s purpose.

• Are there items which do not fulfill the sign’s purpose that can be removed?
• Is the sign too small?
• Would changing the orientation of the sign from a landscape to portrait style or vice versa make a difference in how much room you have to work with?

Next check if one item takes up more space than it needs to. Perhaps if you reduce the description or price slightly, everything will fit together clearly. Be flexible on sizing and placement!

 Finally, make sure everything is clearly readable once the sign is done. Check the final sign in the sign holder or other fixture which will hold it. Make sure all the bits on the edges can be read. Make sure none of the sign features are running off the side of the sign. Check that any graphic elements such as logos or borders are clearly visible and do not interfere with the rest of the sign features. If you run into any of these problems, don’t despair—make a note of any changes that need to be made and apply them to the sign design. Once you have made these changes, check for crowding again, and make reductions or shift things around as necessary. It may take three or four rounds of checking and redesigning until you get a final sign design which satisfies you, and any people who need to approve the sign. Patience is key here, if you follow the general steps you are sure to finish with a sign design you can be proud of!

This content was provided by one of our users, persephone977