10 tricks for better layouts

Like every sign designer, I’ve learned a lot of things over the years that have really helped me improve my designs. Besides making your work more effective for your clients, it’s satisfying to develop and expand your skills. It also gives you more value to sell to your clients. They may not be able to tell you why they like your work, but they will know they like it.

You learn some of these tips by trial and error. Others are passed along to you by another sign designer or by studying the effective layouts of other sign designers. Still others you get out of articles like this one. Here are ten of my favorites that you can add to your toolbox of design skills.

Use plenty of contrast in colors. When it comes to controlling the viewer’s eye, color is an important tool. Contrast, contrast, contrast — and did I say contrast? Too many sign painters and computer people make this mistake frequently, overlooking the essential need for contrast in the colors used on a sign.