Field Notes: Customized Blade Sign
Blade signs are designed to make stores more visible to pedestrians from 20 feet or more. When walking along a sidewalk in a downtown it is hard to see a business until you are right upon it. The blade sign by being visible from a further distance gives a landmark to shoot for and makes the walk more interesting. An even better way to attract attention is with an illuminated blade sign. These are visible not just during the day but also at night. A lighted blade sign with PAR 20 lamp on both sides provides the maximum visibility for stores and an interesting landmark at night. One source for lighted blade sign brackets is here. See some examples and our list of do’s and don’ts below. We recommend for you to increase the quantity of customized blade signs in your community and have some fun when designing your signs.
Do’s
- Be visible
- Illuminate to increase visibility on shorter days and even after hours when the business is closed.
- Prioritize information – phone number and other information should be on your door or elsewhere – not on your blade sign
- Position over main entrance to draw people to your door
Don’ts
- Visually uninteresting signs, i.e. text only
