How To Design A Sign: Turning Negative Space Into A Positive Design Element

White space, also known as negative space, simply refers to the empty area of a design that is devoid of any text or graphics.

The empty spaces surrounding text and graphics are just as important as other design considerations. There is a tendency to "fill up" the available area with as much as possible.

Above is an example of a design that's just a little too crowded to the edge.

If you downsize the text and graphics, like so, the sign looks less crowded. As you can see, though, the smaller size has less impact.

Making the sign just a little bigger preserves the impact of your message without overcrowding the design.

So why is white space so important to create highly effective sign design? Part of the reason is psychological and part of it is physical. Text without adequate white space leaves us feeling crowded and cramped.

Text needs room to breathe.

When text is crowded, the message becomes too difficult to read.

Quick Tip: Once you complete a design, stand back and look at it on your monitor. If a design looks too crowded, it probably is.

Depending on available space and the way you are using your signage, it may not be practical to use all 12 of these design techniques. If you need any help, just give us a call and one of our graphic designers will work one-on-one with you.

We hope this adventure through these secrets of effective sign design has been educational and enjoyable for you. You are now armed with the essentials to making the best choices, allowing you to get the right sign for your needs.