When planning the creation of a new 3d signage in Dubai, many people start thinking about what images will serve as decoration and what color and size to choose. But you need to start with something else, namely, with the choice of font. How do you choose the right font for an advertising structure? Let’s talk about this.
The font solution can make your sign original, support the company’s existing image, and serve as a decoration of the premises. All three goals can be achieved simultaneously, but it is desirable that you clearly understand which task is primary.
If you already have a corporate style, then, as a rule, the fonts on the signs are already thought out. In this case, you must follow the company’s general design rules.
How many fonts would be in a sign?
The golden rule of design: the simpler, the better. This is especially true for fonts, which would look beautiful and be easy to read. It is recommended to use a maximum of 2 types of text, which would:
- go well together;
- easy to perceive and read;
- Relevant to your audience;
- If you have a corporate style, match it too.
The more fonts there are, the worse the inscription will be to read since various decorations distract the brain, causing attention to be scattered.
What fonts do marketers recommend and not recommend using?
During the extensive advertising practice in the world, studies of the effectiveness of certain inscriptions have been conducted more than once. As a result, the following recommendations for choosing a font were formed:
- the inscription must be written in poster-type words;
- all material and implementations must have clear boundaries and attractive color saturation;
- It is recommended that you use the normal font.
Here are some fonts that are not recommended to use:
- artistic (design);
- handwritten, also known as calligraphic;
- words with deformations (too thin or thick characters, curved characters);
- Fonts with small spaces between words and small gaps within words (for example, with barely visible gaps within “o” or “e”).
A person passing by your establishment mustn’t consider what is written above your door. He would notice the inscription, read it, and remember it.
List of the most popular sign fonts
According to various studies, various fonts are recommended for signs. We can highlight the top ten most popular ones:
- AG_Helvetica
- a_Futurica
- Arial Cyr
- Pragmatica
- a_PlakatCmpl
- Pollok
- A_BighausTitle
- a_RubricfCn
- a_MashlnaOrto
- AGOpus
Below the image are five various fonts from the list and the inscription SALE, made with their help.
Which letter sizes and heights would you choose?
Before discussing the size of the sign, it is necessary to determine how far it will be from the viewer. If you plan to use roof structures on façades, they would be large. The law restricts words placed on façades: words must be 35 to 55 cm.
By hanging a sign of this size on a popular street, you will, on the contrary, push away the visitor. If a person passes by the sign, it would be small so that it can be seen at a glance. If the flow of people is 15-20 meters away from the sign, a size of about 30 cm is considered comfortable.
various buildings may have various restrictions from city planning and architectural committees. Be sure to check them or consult with experts!
Features
The location of the advertising on a pop up banner or display stand structure determines the appropriate font. There are various recommendations for various places; for example, it is better to make signs on roofs in bold. It is also worth reviewing typographic types of fonts again (we have already mentioned them above). They are:
- With serifs. Such words are often called Roman. The most famous are Times New Roman and Garamond. Their peculiarity is in short strokes at the ends of words. They are recommended for use in government institutions and on historical façades. They look strict and stylish;
- Sans serif. Also called sans serif. A typical example is Arial. They are easy to read and fit well into modern building exteriors;
- Handwritten or designed. The most striking example of an inscription in such a font is the Coca-Cola logo. They make the inscription more festive but are difficult to read.
Other features of writing the sign text
In addition to the font itself, its position is also on the façade, the distance between words and alignment. The basic rules are:
- If the sign consists entirely of capital words, it is advisable to increase the letter spacing so that the text does not merge into one;
- In two-line signs, it is necessary to maintain the same line spacing, aligning them to the center or the right edge;
- If the sign is vertical, you can’t make it too long; it will be difficult to read;
- When placed above arches and columns, italics can be used but would not be overused.
There are many recommendations on which font to choose. But remember that each case is individual. Consider your company’s features and its audience—this is the only way to make the perfect sign!
