A shopfront sign only has one job: to get people’s attention. These are the decisions that you have to make to achieve this.
Pick Strong Contrast
Start with the very basics: dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background. The RNIB’s guidance on accessible colour contrast authority link page has more information on choosing good colour combinations for signs to read in bright sunlight, as well as on screens.
Size Letters for the Distance
A letter 25mm high can be read from approximately 6m away, but if the person viewing your shop sign is any farther away, then increase the height of the letters accordingly. What may seem ample in a mock-up of a sign for a shop front, will in reality disappear from view!
Leave Breathing Room Around the Text
Text which is crowded at the edges of a sign is far more difficult to read than if there are good sized margins between the text and the edge of the sign. Allow 15-20% of the width of the sign on both sides.
Fit the Shape to the Fascia
Similarly, avoid letting your sign fight with your fascia for attention – be a sensible size and shape to fit within the available space.
Carry One Clear Message
Firstly state what you want the sign to say. Secondly, how you want to say it. Thirdly, anything else that you want to include that doesn’t compete with the above two points. As Exeter shopfronts are generally in very busy high streets, a clear hierarchy is important to ensure people can read your sign within a second or two. There is more on Signs Exeter at //exeter.nettl.com/signs/.
Once you have covered the basics of sign design, your shopfront sign will be doing its job effectively and you won’t have to worry about it.
