Fixing the “Jack’s Ridge” layout

Some signs do their job, but sadly, a great many fall short. It matters little whether they are big illuminated displays, gilded 3D signs, vehicles or routine directional signs. Recently John Elliott [Prickle Patch Signs, Nambucca Heads, NSW, Australia] sent SignCraft.com a tip on how to hang a sign when you don’t have a helper.

In the photo, we noticed that the new directional panel had a much more effective layout than the original one, so we asked John about it.

“The original sign was designed by a graphic artist sitting in front of a computer screen,” says John. “No doubt he or she was moving this here, adding that there, making sure the Pantone colors were correct—all at the direction of the client. It was actually a committee—say no more—and I imagine that they told the designer they wanted to tell the viewer this, that and the other.