Signs are communication mediums that respond to our mobile lifestyles. Signature buildings such as the widely recognized McDonalds restaurant building designs are signs. A facelift to a building such as the old western village false storefronts is also considered a sign. Thoughtful use of the visibility features of your business site expands your ability to communicate with passersby. Regardless of the type used, your signs must be appealing to potential customers and the message must be easily understood.
When faced with the task of reviewing the many choices of signs available, it helps to approach it by first looking at the three primary locations in which you will typically use on-premise signs:
1. Building Mounted signs
2. Freestanding signs
3. Interior signs
Keep in mind that there are dozens of possible sign options and configurations, each as unique as a business' needs.
Here are some of the options you may want to consider in your sign:
• Building mounted on-premise signs may be attached to the roof, parapet, marquee, or building fascia. These signs may be either parallel or perpendicular to the building surface.
• Freestanding on-premise signs are generally supported by a structure attached to or cast in a foundation. . The structure and attachments to the foundation may be concealed with a decorative covering. Freestanding signs can be further enhanced by landscaping.
• On-premise signs can be either internally or externally illuminated. For retail businesses, on-premise signs should be illuminated too accomplish communication with potential customers during nighttime hours.
• Sometimes a building itself functions as a sign. This occurs most often with franchise and chain retail operations, where standardized (or "signature") buildings and colors, as well as traditional on-premise signs, announce the presence of the business.
• Buildings also may be fitted or retrofitted with "trade dress" to design a theme. Retrofitting of a building-facade is often described as a "face lift." Both building and freestanding signs should be designed to echo the theme or trade dress.
• Changeable copy boards or electronic message centers enhance a sign's effectiveness by providing space to advertise time dependent messages. Such sign or sign additions can be electronically controlled (the electronic message center), or changed manually (the changeable copy sign).
• Interior on-premise signs are those that advertise the location of businesses located in a common building such as a mall, office building or entertainment complex. They have two major purposes:
1. to influence buyer choices and encourage certain "point of purchase" transactions; and
2. to provide guidance in a safe and efficient manner, as required by local regulatory authorities and federal law.
Primarily, there are building mounted, freestanding and interior signs, within which are many types of signs. Carefully reviewing the many types of signs, and considering how well they will meet your location and business' needs, will enable you to select the kind of signs you need for your greatest business success.
Here are descriptions of various types of signs you might use:
Building mounted signs are essentially "signs that are applied or attached to a building." Within this expansive definition, however, fall many separate types of building mounted signs. Here are some different signs you might use.
Wall or Fascia
A sign that is attached to the exterior wall or fascia of a building. The building fascia is that portion of any elevation of a building extending vertically from the grade to the top parapet wall or eaves, and horizontally across the entire width of the building elevation, including slanted wall surfaces sometimes referred to as a mansard.
Building Mounted Signs
Awning
A building mounted sign that provides additional functionality as shelter. Awnings are most often found over walkways, doorways or window areas.
Projecting
A building mounted sign with the faces of the sign perpendicular to the building fascia.
Sign band
A horizontal area above a multi-tenants' building's entrances, architecturally designed to accommodate complementary signs for each tenant.
Roof sign
A building mounted sign erected on the roof of a building.
Parapet
A sign mounted on top of the parapet of a building.
Window
A sign that is displayed in a window, whether it is attached to the window, or it is applied to the window.
Freestanding Signs
Canopy
A sign that is displayed on a marquee or Canopy.
Pylon
A freestanding sign with visible support structure or with the support structure enclosed with a pole or pylon cover.
Joint Tenant sign
A sign used to display the names of tenants of a business complex.
Monument
A ground sign with low overall height.
Pole
A freestanding sign with visible support structure.
High-rise pole
A tall freestanding pole sign.
Directional
Signs designed to provide direction to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Electronic Message Center
A variable message sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy. These signs include displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix.
Interior Signs
Directional Sign
Signs designed to provide direction to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Directory
A sign that identifies the names and locations of tenants in a multi-tenant building or in a development made up of a group of buildings.
Regulatory Sign
A sign having the primary purpose of conveying information concerning rules, ordinances or laws.
Mall Signs
A wide variety of typical on-premise sign types located within the interior of a multi-tenant building or mall.
Point-of-Purchase (POP)
Signs that advertise a product at its point-of-purchase.
If you have any questions or need further information, please send us an e-mail at info@signstudiola.com or give us a call at (818) 843-9200. The Sign Studio is here to help YOU!
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