When you choose to make the material of your a frame sign wood, you visually align your sign with your brand identity. Wood a frame sidewalk signs can serve a broad range of businesses, fitting any brand or shop that values aesthetics, eco-consciousness, or just plain pride in brand representation.
Compared to a bulky plastic sign, a wood sidewalk sign shows that you care about how your brand is perceived, and customers can trust that the attention to detail shown in your retail signage will hold true throughout their experience with your brand.
So, how do you design an effective sidewalk sign board?
- Reflect your brand identity
- Keep content simple and readable
- Plan to care for your sign's materials.
Okay, so that last one isn't exactly a design tip, but it does keep your design fresh and protect your investment!
1. Design a Wooden Sidewalk Sign with your Brand Identity
Bringing your brand fonts, graphics, and colors into the design of your wood sidewalk sign is your first priority. Rather than start out with a focus on content, you should ensure that the sidewalk sign conveys your brand identity, even at a glance.
Think of this as the "hook" that stops someone from scrolling - we mean strolling - on by, while the content is more like the caption. Gotta get them to stop before you can convince them to read!
Take a look at the example below from Lululemon, which incorporates all three:
You might be thinking, "But my brand isn't as established as all that." That's not a problem! If your brand's style is intriguing to your ideal customer, showing it off on your sign will make that customer stop and check you out.
2. Keep Your Sidewalk Sign Board Simple and Readable
You've heard the saying "if everything's bold, then nothing is bold." Your sidewalk sign a frame isn't the place for paragraphs of text about your business. Simplicity is key for effective communication, so you'll want to prioritize your key message over anything else.
You'll also want to consider the size of your text, and make sure that it's readable to someone 5-10 feet away and in motion. We recommend your text be 1" tall for every 10 feet away that your reader will be.
All that's not to say that you can't list your offerings or get creative with your content! See the example below for a simple message from Naysayer Coffee that can be read from a bit of a distance:
An easy-to-read font and some brand personality in your content are a winning combo every time.
3. Plan for Proper Care of Your Wooden Sidewalk Sign
To keep your design looking great, you'll want to work with the materials on your custom wood sign board. Most wooden sign makers use weather-resistant finishes, but wood is still susceptible to expanding and contracting through changes in temperature and humidity.
Talk to your sign maker about durability, and consider your climate. We don't recommend letting a wooden sidewalk sign sit outside in the rain, and suggest that you bring it inside each night. If your location gets heavy rain or snow, you should consider using a metal sidewalk sign for longevity.
With a combination of wood tones and your brand, you can easily create a unique and effective wooden sidewalk sign. Remember to stay true to your brand and keep your audience (and their placement!) in mind.
Still running into questions? We offer a free sign design service - just fill out our design inquiry form, and one of our designers will get a mockup sent back your way!
