Signage: School Signs - Tips From The Pros
By: Source: Sign Resource Management
We asked representatives from three of the top sign manufacturers to tell us what they’d most like to tell you about this great advertising and communication tool for your school.
1. Take the purchase of a school sign seriously.
The single best tip for a school is to take the signage purchase seriously and do not try to leave it as a generic item in the overall contract. All signage is custom - there are no "off-the-shelf" school signs.
Take a master-planned approach to the signage, giving consideration to longevity, flexibility, function, design, color and reorder needs. All of these things can be identified in a master plan where many decisions are made in advance. This makes implementation for that first order and re-orders much smoother. Best of all, the signage becomes a real tool for identity and wayfinding.
Also, have a little fun with the signs, and show some school spirit in the process. There are ways to customize that don't necessarily add to the budget.
--Marianne Koons, president, Sign Resource Management
2. Make the most of your sign.
School signs are reaching much further than ever before. No longer are these signs just boxes on a leg identifying the school. Great school signs are colorful, feature the school’s mascot, and provide an excellent avenue to reach students, parents and the community as a whole. Schools across America are using their signs to recruit parent involvement, announce school activities, and improve fundraising efforts.
As “moving message” LED signs become less expensive, schools can literally send a message to every passerby every hour of the day. Once the initial investment is made, an LED sign is probably the most cost-effective “technology” available today.
Communicate, reach and inspire the entire community in ways that are limited only by your imagination.
--Bob Klinger, president, Signs Plus
3. Go for quality, quality, quality.
When making the investment of a marquee for your school, the most important factor should be the overall quality of the sign. Your sign will project the image of your school, so asking the right questions during the evaluation process is essential. This single step could mean the difference between your sign lasting two years or 20 years.
What defines a “quality” sign? The questions below will help you to determine that during your purchasing process.
Questions about quality that should be asked include:
• What is the sign face made out of?
• What type of coating is used on the sign
• Is this sign vandal and graffiti resistant?
Quality naturally includes the warranty behind your sign. If something ever does go wrong, you can have the piece of mind to know it will be taken care of for you.
However, be careful to consider the reputation and longevity of the sign company. A warranty is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Purchasing a product based solely on price may be a costly mistake in the long run, especially if that company is no longer around to fix it. As they say, “you get what you pay for.”
--Chip Goudreau, sales manager, Stewart Signs
4. Think in terms of visibility.
I think the biggest mistake people make when purchasing a sign is that they forget that this is a sign, not a piece of art or a letterhead that can be read at close range and standing still. Colors that work well on school mastheads and on the walls of the schools may be very attractive, but when viewed from a moving vehicle, the message is completely indecipherable because there is not enough contrast between the lettering and the background. Consumers need to think in terms of visibility. A sign is of no value if people cannot easily read the information in a short span of time. Sometimes bigger is better, and, sometimes, no matter how big the sign, if the lettering blends into the background or the background is too busy with illustrations or photos the sign will not be read. Get what you pay for--buy a sign that can be read easily and without confusion.
--Cris Schneider, president, Schneider National Sign Corp.
Sidebar
Getting Started with Your School Sign
Review these guidelines to help you get organized:
1. What will be the driving force for this project (image and quality, function, timetable, match existing signage, budget, wayfinding issues, etc.)? While there are usually multiple factors in any project, one need will typically take precedence and override the others.
2. What are the main problems you would like the signage to address?
3. What project information and reference material can you provide (project blueprints; project design reference such as paint colors, wallcoverings, carpet, other finishing specifications; logos; site plans and elevations; project descriptions, building access and usage details, etc.)?
4. Will there be requirements for the design to meet, such as the need for frequent changes of information and/or personnel, special needs or functions, logo use, bilingual needs, industry code compliance, etc.?
5. Will you provide the initial list of sign messages, locations, functions, or is that something you need help getting started?
6. Can you provide a budget figure to work within, or at least some budget or quality level guidelines?
7. What are your timing issues: key dates to target, special needs for presentations, inspections, etc.?
8. Who will be the decision makers for the signage project? Will additional time/materials be required for their involvement?
General Timetable for Key Steps in Signage Project
• Needs Assessment: Off-site assessment: 1-3 weeks; On-site assessment: 3-6 weeks
• Design Process (what it looks like and more): 2-6 weeks
• Programming (what it does, where it goes, what it says): 2-6 weeks
• Fabrication Plan (how much it costs, how it’s made): 2-3 weeks
• Budget Plan: Speculative: 1-2 weeks; Realistic: 2-4 weeks
• Sample Production: 4-6 weeks
• Fabrication: 4-6 weeks
• Installation: 1 day to 1 week or more
Source: Sign Resource Management
