How to Make a Truly Good Sign

Chances are that after looking at this selection from the Rare and Unusual and Funny Signs group, you might be wondering whether there are any truly good, clear signs around. Well, there are, and we found some expert advice on how to create neither weird nor unusual signs that deliver a clear message. 

Experts at Signs & Lines, a company that has been making great signs for over 35 years, think good sign needs to be aware of these four critical things:

• Audience – a sharp focus on key users;
• Message – design, brand, location, and visibility;
• Environment – the sign's location and nearby architectural features;
• Function – durability, information, static or interactive.

"Irrespective of the sign type the key premise of a sign is to convey a message," people at Signs & Lines explained.

"Usually this is a relatively short, sharp communication. The number one task of any sign is to get a message across as quickly and effectively as possible."

Business owners should remember that their signs are kind of a big deal and it is better to stay away from strange funny signs. "Whether static or digital signage, your customers, users, guests, staff, students, and visitors need you to have good signage ... [because] it's the first visual connection with your company," the Signs & Lines team said.

Good signs will:

• help them find your business;
• assist in their navigation of your organization;
• convince them that you are professional;
• assure them that they are in the right place.

"Transitioning from good to great signage involves many different aspects of design including logo, creative, positioning, colors, and manufacturing ability," Signs & Lines added.

Once designed in detail, a typical sign may undergo a number of steps to achieve a high-quality result. These include:

• routering of materials to create precision shapes;
• fabrication of metals to form rigid structures and frameworks;
• spray painting of sign elements to automotive standards;
• graphics imagery to bring the messaging to life;
• illumination by LED or neon for 24/7 visibility;
• assembly of all components;
• installation on-site at height or in the ground.

Or, in other words, there are plenty of areas where they can fall short! Luckily for us, sometimes bad signs make for a good laugh, and there are plenty more rare and unusual and funny signs to laugh at on this list.