You must choose the perfect font for your outdoor signs so that you can ensure the growth of your business. You want to provide a long-lasting good impression to your potential and loyal customers, and you can achieve this with attractive lettering. The truth is that bad fonts and awkward lettering are very memorable, and you don’t want your audience remembering you for all the wrong reasons.
In this article, we will discuss the best and worst fonts to use for your outdoor sign and how to tell if a typeface is good or not.
Best Fonts for Signs
- Avenir
- Bebas
- Bodoni
- Didot
- Frutiger
- Futura
- Garamond
- Helvetica
- Proxima Nova
- Verdana
Most designers recommend using these fonts, but remember that there is really no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to design. This is why it’s still important to choose lettering that best suits your overall branding and message so you can attract your target audience.
Worst Fonts for Signs
- Any script
- Bonzai
- Brush script
- Comic Sans
- Curlz
- Papyrus
- Times New Roman
- Souvenir
As much as possible, avoid using any of these fonts. They can make your signage look unsightly and unprofessional, and potentially put off customers.
Qualities of a Good Typeface
When it comes to identifying a great typeface, take note of the following qualities:
1. Consistency
We can not emphasize enough the importance of consistency in a typeface. It positively impacts the design of your signage when all the characters have similar features and styles.
2. Even Kerning
Kerning is the area between two letters. Typically, too small or too big kerning may make it hard for the words to be readable. Ideal fonts should have even kernings for easy readability and a neat look.
3. Legibility
Similar to even kerning, a legible typeface greatly helps your business signs to be read and understood by your potential customers. The most well-known legible fonts include Garamond, Helvetica, and Sans Serif.
Best Digital and Print Fonts
In digital lettering, you can skip thick-type styles since the letters almost always look crisp on screens. Some of the standard fonts used for digital lettering are Comic Sans and Papyrus.
On the other hand, the typefaces you use for printed signage should be legible and thick enough to be printed. This is because some printing equipment cannot print out thin lettering.
Best Signage Colors
You can never go wrong with using neutral colors. Choose black or gray letters on a light background for official or formal signs you want to create. If you’re going to go for a much more stylish look, it’s best to use white letters on a dark background.
However, as already mentioned, design is a dynamic process wherein you are free to make your own decisions based on purpose and functionality. This means that color, an essential element of design, will still depend on your brand personality and the message you want to convey. Do not be afraid to use and mix other colors, as long as the fonts are readable and pleasing to the eye.
Conclusion
When designing your business signage, focus on your target audience and their needs. With our quick guide above, we hope it becomes easier for you to choose the right fonts that will help fulfill these needs and grow your enterprise.
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