On any street in any city of the United States you will find a smorgasbord of signs. They come in all shapes and sizes and are meant to serve numerous purposes. As we drive on our highways and interstates we see signs that help us find our way, and that help to promote our safety.
In neighborhoods we often see signs posted about yard sales or estate sales. On occasion we also see banners strung across the front of a home that announces a birthday, a welcome home, or the birth of a new baby. It’s common to see signs promoting the sale or rent of a house or apartment and it is not unusual to see a ‘for sale’ sign posted on a parked car in the driveway.
Signs are taken for granted – we simply expect to see the architectural signage and accept it as a necessary if not natural and beautiful part of our view. In fact, when signs are missing, we notice, but we don’t really seem to realize just how many signs we use daily – until one is missing. There are definitely more complaints made about too few signs than there are about too many.
If you have ever been lost in a large place of business that did not have a directory board then you can appreciate the significance of having a directory sign in plain view for clients. It is not only a helpful service, it is a courteous one. The same is true if you have made a wrong turn while on a drive and you cannot find a sign to confirm where you are. We simply expect signs to be where we need them when we need them.
At trade shows you typically see a lot of banners on display that sometimes are used to announce a new or special event, a sale, or simply the name and logo of the company. Outdoor banners are usually quite large and colorful. This design easily gets the attention of anyone passing by, and that of course is the intent.
As you drive along the road you can very often find a sign on another automobile in the form of a vehicle magnet. These signs are an affordable alternative to a custom paint job that includes a business name, contact information, and logo. Many savvy business owners are opting for this economical choice in advertising, and the more they use their vehicle the more advertisement they get.
‘Signs’ have even become a part of office equipment in the form of self inking stamps. It seems that wherever you look you find signs. We expect to see them and we depend on them. We miss their help when they are not there – that is why business owners will continue to provide the information we need on signs.
