Sign Design

• Terminology de-mystified
Sign Design Signing’, ‘signs’, ‘sign-post’, ‘sign
systems’, ‘signage’…
• Signage as a specific aspect of
Environment Graphic Design

Sign Design Sign Design

Environmental Graphic Design Sign Categories

Identify Direct Inform

Directional Orientational

Visual appeal, safety Identificational Ornamental

Signs

Statutory Informational
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Sign Categories
• Orientational Signs
Signs to locate users in an environment
Ex. maps, exploded views, architectural
reference points, landmarks etc.

Sign Design

Sign Categories
• Informational Signs
Signs to provide specific information.
Ex. opening hours, merchandise,
forthcoming events…

Sign Design

Sign Categories
• Informational Signs
Signs to provide specific information.
Ex. opening hours, merchandise,
forthcoming events…
Informational directories: large amounts of
information.
Ex. Restaurants, reception areas, retail
stores, major entrances and decision points;
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Sign Categories
• Directional Signs
Signs to navigate and are usually part of
the system
Ex. Motor ways, contained
environments, high-stress environments
like air-ports, public spaces like
shopping complexes, museums;
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Sign Categories
• Identificational signs
Signs to confirm destinations or
establish recognition of a particular
location
Ex. advertise a business/ activity,
corporate identity, personalise the
property;
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Sign Categories
• Statutory (Regulatory) signs
Signs to display rules-of-order as for
conduct or prohibited activity prescribed
by local regulations, owners, authorities
Ex. Legal notices, security regulations,
traffic control devices/markings, exit
signs, emergency signs (fire);

Sign Design

Sign Categories
• Ornamental signs
Signs to embellish, enhance or beautify
the appearance or general effect of an
environment or its individual elements
Ex. commemorative plaques, tablets,
banners, flags, fences;
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Concerns in Sign Design

Copy Wording
• Clear wording
• Wording to match its prospective audience
• Unambiguous
• Social politeness to be observed
“All passes must be shown”
“ Please show your security pass”

Sign Design Sign Design

Concerns in Sign Design Concerns in Sign Design

Copy Wording Letterform (typeface)
Abbreviations • ‘Use’ defines the appropriateness of letterforms
No abbreviations unless a strong purpose • Individual letters can ruin the whole composition
• ‘Helvetica’, ‘Times’, ‘Sans Serif’ are safe forms
Punctuations
Usually no punctuations
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In case of emergency save yourself Concerns in Sign Design

Letterform (typeface)
In case of emergency save yourself
Legibility
• Able to See and Comprehend

Sign Design

Concerns in Sign Design

Letterform (typeface)

Legibility
• Able to See and Comprehend
• Role of shadows, familiarity, motivation,
state-of-health
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Concerns in Sign Design
Letterform (typeface)
Guidelines on Legibility
Weight
Margins
Alignment
Overall shape
Lowercase preferred
Choice of headings and capitals
Spacing-unevenness can lead to tripping

Sign Design
Concerns in Sign Design
Expression through Letterforms

In case of emergency “By its interpretation of the subject. Lettering

communicates what would be impossible to
Save yourself spell out
- Jock Kinnier, ‘words & buildings’

Sign Design Sign Design

Concerns in Sign Design Concerns in Sign Design

Letters and letterforms Letterform

‘inherent message’
expresses the “message”
Corporate Political
information concept mood philosophy statement
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Concerns in Sign Design

Colour and Material

“If you can’t make it good, make it BIG,

If you can’t make it big, make it red”
- Paul Rand