Top Tips for Designing Eye-Catching Commercial Signs
- Simplify
- May 2
- 5 min read
Creating effective signage is more than just putting words and images on a board. It takes careful planning, good design sense, and a clear message. Whether you're working on storefront signs, vehicle wraps, or indoor displays, the right design can make a big difference in how people see and respond to a business.
If you're a sign shop owner or manage sign production, you know how important it is to get it right. From layout and color to font choice and spacing, each element matters. In this post, we break down seven simple design principles that every sign shop should follow to create signage that works—and gets results.
1. Keep It Simple
The most effective signs are often the simplest. Too much text, too many images, or a busy background can confuse viewers. Remember, many people see signs while they’re driving or walking past. They only have a few seconds to read and understand the message.
Focus on one key message per sign. Keep text short and to the point. Use clean layouts that guide the eye from top to bottom or left to right.
Clutter can quickly dilute a message. Avoid trying to include too many services, products, or images in a single sign. When in doubt, cut it out. This minimal approach ensures that your message is seen and remembered.
Tip: A skilled signage graphic artist knows how to remove clutter without losing meaning. Simple doesn't mean boring. Instead, it reflects a focused and confident design approach that gets noticed.
2. Use High-Contrast Colors
Contrast makes text easier to read and graphics easier to see. Choose colors that stand out from each other. A light color on a dark background (or vice versa) works well. For example, white text on a black background or black text on a yellow background grabs attention fast.
Avoid using colors that blend into each other, like red text on a dark blue background. It may look stylish on a screen, but it often fails in the real world. Low contrast can cause signs to fade into the background, making them ineffective.
Think about visibility during the day and night. Some colors glow better under artificial lighting. Others work better in sunlight. Weather can also affect how colors appear, so test your designs in different conditions.
If color theory isn’t your strong point, you can hire a graphic artist for signs who understands how to balance colors for maximum impact. These professionals understand how contrast affects perception and readability.
3. Make Text Easy to Read
The goal of any sign is communication. If the font is too fancy or too small, people won’t read it. Use bold, clear fonts that are easy to read from a distance. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Futura are great options. Stay away from script or decorative fonts unless they are used sparingly in a logo or brand name. Even then, test their readability at different distances.
Size also matters. Make sure your text is large enough to read from where your audience will be. As a rule of thumb, every inch of letter height gives you about 10 feet of readability.
Example: A 6-inch tall letter can be read from 60 feet away. For highway signs or billboards, letters may need to be 18 inches tall or more.
Proper spacing is also critical. Letters that are too close together or too far apart can hurt legibility. A commercial signs graphic artist understands kerning and tracking and can adjust text for optimal clarity.
4. Use Visual Hierarchy
Visual hierarchy means arranging elements so that the most important parts stand out. Your main message should be the largest, boldest, or most colorful part of the design. Supporting details should be smaller or lighter.
Think of your sign in layers:
Headline or brand name (largest and boldest)
Tagline or key benefit (medium size)
Contact info or call to action (smaller but still clear)
This layering helps guide the viewer’s eye and allows them to absorb the message quickly. Even with just a glance, the most important information should be clear.
A good commercial signs graphic artist knows how to use size, weight, spacing, and color to guide the viewer’s eye. This skill helps make your message more effective. When you trust a professional with your sign design outsourcing, make sure they understand hierarchy as a visual storytelling tool.
5. Include a Clear Call to Action
What do you want people to do after they see your sign? Call a number? Visit a website? Walk into a store? Book an appointment?
Your call to action (CTA) should be short, clear, and easy to spot. Examples include:
“Call Now!”
“Visit Us Today”
“Order Online”
“Schedule a Free Quote”
CTAs should be placed in a high-visibility location, not hidden in the fine print. Use bold colors or shapes to set the CTA apart from other text. Consider placing it at eye level or in an area of natural focus.
If you're doing sign design outsourcing, make sure your design partner understands your goal so they can build the right CTA into the layout. Communication is key. A strong CTA can make the difference between someone walking away—or walking in.
6. Design for the Environment
A great sign not only looks good on screen but also fits the space where it will be placed. Will it be viewed from far away? Is it going on a moving vehicle? Will it be in a bright outdoor setting or a dim indoor one?
Think about lighting, shadows, physical obstructions, and how fast someone may be moving when they see the sign. A sign on a storefront has different needs than a banner at an event or a wrap on a delivery van.
Design your signs for the real world. Choose colors and fonts that hold up in different lighting conditions. Use materials that reflect the business and last in that environment.
This is where working with an experienced signage graphic artist can help. They consider viewing angles, lighting, and even motion when designing. A wrap that looks great standing still may lose impact if key elements are placed where vehicle doors slide or bend.
7. Stay On Brand
Every sign is an extension of the business it represents. Use brand colors, logos, and tone of voice in all signage. Consistency builds trust and helps customers recognize the brand anywhere.
Consistency also improves professionalism. A business with mismatched signs and logos sends the wrong message to customers.
If your client already has a style guide, follow it closely. If not, you may need to develop one. This can include fonts, colors, logo rules, and examples of tone. It’s also helpful to create templates for frequently used sign types.
When you hire a graphic artist for signs, look for someone who asks questions about brand identity. That’s a sign they’re thinking beyond just design and into the bigger picture of marketing. They can help keep the brand message strong across all platforms.
Conclusion: Great Signs Are a Team Effort
Designing effective signage takes more than creative flair. It’s about communication, strategy, and knowing how people see and respond to visual cues. Following these seven design principles can help sign shops deliver better results for their customers—and stand out from the competition.
Signage design isn’t just art. It’s a specialized service that blends design and marketing. Whether you're doing it in-house or relying on sign design outsourcing, having a commercial signs graphic artist on your team makes the process easier and the results stronger.
Good signage can boost sales, raise awareness, and even make a small business feel like a major brand. Don’t settle for average—invest in smart design.
Need help bringing your next signage project to life? Simplify Graphics offers industry-specific design services for sign companies and wrap shops across the U.S. Our team is fast, professional, and knows what works. Contact us today to learn more!
コメント