Sign Education – Sign Mistakes – Busy Background

Let’s face it, graphics are cool! They can make a sign “pop”, drawing customers’ eyes to your sign. It’s true that a picture is worth a thousand words. Graphics can evoke emotions that influence your customers’ buying decisions, educate them about products / services they don’t know you offer, or attract new customers.

The bad news is, graphics can be overdone or done wrong. Graphics should enhance your message, not overtake it. The most important elements of your sign are your company name and what you do for your customers.

A picture of a pizza clearly communicates what you offer so it would be a good graphic to use. However, there are lots of pizza restaurants so it’s extremely important that your company name is highly visible on your signs or vehicle wraps. The pizza graphic would be best placed in a corner or off to the side of the lettering, not behind it.

Screaming bright and bold red letters virtually lose their ability to communicate if they are on a busy background like leopard print. Leopard print (or some other busy pattern) is part of your image? Use it judiciously – maybe as a border or across the top or bottom.

Text over graphics can be highly effective if done right. The key is keeping them in proper perspective so your message doesn’t get lost. Remember, the purpose of your sign is to be seen and understood within seconds. When the background obscures your company name and / or your message it defeats the purpose!