Less is Usually More

There are many different components to signs, including size, color, design and verbiage. Since every sign serves a unique purpose, these elements need to be researched on a case-by-case basis; there’s no cookie-cutter right or wrong, but there are some general guidelines with respect to the words that appear on your signs.

In most cases, it’s best to get your message across in as few words as possible. Depending on the location of your sign, people may only have a moment to glance at it, so including a bunch of copy, even if it’s large, is usually a mistake.

Think about the power of a sign you see every day that has only one word on it: STOP. While you’ll likely need a bit more copy than that, always err on the side of brevity.

You also need to choose your words wisely. Go for simple rather than complex and short rather than long, and don’t use “word play” unless you’re totally certain anyone who looks at your sign will get it. The last thing you want to do is over-complicate things by being so cute with words that you lose much of your audience.

You may think you know what you want to say on your sign, but don’t discount the value of working with a sign professional to ensure your message is clear, concise and easily read.

Less is Usually More